The Lumberjack men's basketball team would use a big first half including 22 from Max Groom to propel them to an opening round win over the Bismarck State College Mystics 93-79.

The Jacks got the offense going early with a 12-4 run to start the game. The DCB guards were firing on all cylinders as Groom finished the first half with 24 and Brendan Redhead had 13 points and 5 assists. The Jacks defense also forced 12 first half turnovers by the Mystics. At the half DCB led 55-33

In the second half BSC would attempt to chip away at the Lumberjack lead but would struggle to get the deficit back under 15. While the Mystics were able to slow down Groom and Redhead for a period in the second half the Jacks got an offensive lift from transfers Danny Lazic and Wai'apo Louis in the second half scoring 9 and 10 points respectively in the end the Jacks would come out on top 93-79. DCB had five players score in double figures led by Groom with 31, Redhead with 17, Luke Valencia, and Lazic each had 11, and Louis finished with 10 points. Isaiah Davis led the Mystics with 16 points.

With the win DCB moves to 1-0 the Jacks will play the winner of Dawson and Lake Region tomorrow night at approximately 8:45.