SDSU SENIOR TRIO CONTINUES PROGRAM SUCCESS

Three Jackrabbit men's basketball players appear in their final game in Frost Arena on Saturday when South Dakota State hosts regular season Summit League champion Oral Roberts. It's fitting the trio will compete Saturday against a team that may quite possibly stand in the way of them adding even more to their own program history when The Summit League tournament comes around in Sioux Falls next week.

Alex Arians, Matt Dentlinger and Aaron Fiegen make up the contingent of graduating student-athletes that will take the floor for the final time in front of an audience of Jackrabbit fans in Frost Arena. Celebrating three impactful seniors inside the home of SDSU basketball Saturday will be about as good as it can get in college athletics.

All three Jackrabbits have different stories, but a couple tenets for the trio that connect them stand out.

The first for all three is the experience Frost Arena has provided.

Fiegen was the first Jackrabbit to understand the environment in Frost Arena. The Madison native's brother Tony was the starting center on the SDSU teams of the early 2010s that won two Summit League tournament titles and advanced to the Jackrabbits' first Division I NCAA Tournaments.

"Those were really fun games to go to," Fiegen said of visiting Frost Arena as he grew up. "Especially the SDSU-NDSU games. (Tony's) team was pretty talented, they went to two NCAA Tournaments in a row. We talk about it with my parents, those teams were such tough teams. The players like Jordan Dykstra, (Brayden) Carlson, Nate (Wolters), then my brother too, one thing I always appreciate is how hard of a worker he was."

Arians made his way to Brookings from the state capitol of Wisconsin, Madison, but a much different location than the one Fiegen grew up in. But one of the things that stood out to him he said early on was the community-based fan support that SDSU's program receives.

"It's awesome," Arians said of playing in Frost Arena. "Some of the best home-court fans in college basketball, each and every night. Everybody shows up no matter who we're playing and it's a rocking crowd and great environment."

Matt Dentlinger has spent six years in Brookings, along with Arians, and has played in plenty of games in Frost Arena. The success they've been part of is unparalleled as the Jackrabbits own the best record at home in Division I men's basketball since 2011-12 of 151-8 (.950) as well as over the past seven years of 101-5 (.953).

"I'd just say I'm really grateful to have the ability to play for a program and come to a school like this where all-around it's excellent," Dentlinger said. "From the team, the tradition of winning, the fans are amazing, Frost is really fun to play in, the members of the team have always been really close, it's been a great experience."

SDSU has hung its success on a series of mantras that center on togetherness.

Arians and Dentlinger each joined the program ahead of the 2017-18 season, but utilized that year as redshirts. They spent that year watching a group complete a three-peat at The Summit League Tournament and finish the campaign with a 28-7 record and a close loss to Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament. The success of that team and the culture that was built at SDSU made a mark on the two and impacted the trajectories of their own college careers.

"That was a really fun year," Dentlinger said. "I got to really adjust to the college experience academically and practice without the pressures of playing and get a lot of work in the weight room.

"What that year taught me the most was what was expected in this program. We're expected to win, we're going to do everything we can to keep that going."

While Dentlinger's role as a redshirt freshman was as a contributor off the bench, Arians served as a starter for more than two-thirds of the team's 2018-19 season. It was a crucial task for a freshman on an eventual conference regular-season title team and NIT participant, but one that molded Arians into the Jackrabbit player he is now.

"No matter my role, I want to have an effect on the team," Arians said. "Bring a good attitude, be there for my teammates each night. Whether I was playing the 4 when I was a redshirt freshman or point guard now, I want to have a positive impact on my teammates."

Even in Fiegen's case, the program has been there though his on-court resume may not be one filled with numbers on his personal stat line. His past trials have been noted before, his battle with epilepsy and seizures including a benign tumor found in his brain, but his Jackrabbit brothers have been by his side during his time in Brookings. Something Fiegen hasn't taken for granted.

"Obviously my teammates and coaches," Fiegen said of who he'd thank for being by him through his time in Yellow and Blue. "They kept me going every day and we spent a lot of time around each other. I have a special shout out to Matt Mims and (former Jackrabbit student-athlete) Owen King, my (first) roommates at SDSU. Their friendship really got me through a ton."

The third component to the trio's connection has been Jackrabbit Nation and the support they've received from those invested in the men's basketball program.

It includes a focus such as academics for somebody like Dentlinger, who has been able to become a two-time, and most likely a three-time, Academic All-American while studying different areas of engineering on his way to a graduate degree.

"This has been a win-win for me," Dentlinger said of attending SDSU and getting to play for the Jackrabbits. "I'm really fortunate to leave with two degrees and be a part of this program. It's really worked out pretty well and I'm thankful for that."

The Jackrabbit men's basketball team is certainly aware of the backing they have. From those involved in SDSU's Playmaker's Club, to inside SDSU Athletics, family members of teammates and the fans that give them a boost at each event, somebody like Arians has said he's noticed it since he arrived in Brookings.

"I really appreciate everything Jackrabbit Nation has done for me and this program and the school the past six years," Arians said. "I've enjoyed every minute I've been out there with the guys. The support not only for me, but all our student-athletes at South Dakota State is great."

Fiegen's impact has been immeasurable for the Jackrabbits in the locker room as he's elevated those around him. His time in Yellow and Blue hasn't been lost on the local product.

"It's crazy, it went by so fast," Fiegen said of his time at SDSU. "I've enjoyed every moment. Now that's it coming to an end, I'm trying not take any one of them for granted."

The trio of Jackrabbits still have an opportunity to continue the legacy of the athletes that came through the program before them. While two redshirted, and another was a signing, the program was in the midst of building its reign in The Summit League completing its third consecutive run through The Summit League Tournament.

Arians, Dentlinger and Fiegen have helped continue the level of success Jackrabbit fans have come to expect. Four more Summit League regular season titles and a Summit League Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance have been made with them on the court donning the SDSU colors.

They will have another opportunity to add to their solid history in the program laurels next week, trying to continue their program feats against the foes of The Summit League. First, South Dakota State will celebrate and recognize the trio of Jackrabbits Saturday afternoon pre-game against Oral Roberts. A game Jackrabbit Nation won't want to miss.

-GoJacks.com-

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Alex Arians

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Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus North Dakota on February 21, 2026 , Win , 91, to, 83

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus North Dakota State on February 18, 2026 , Loss , 66, to, 74

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Oral Roberts on February 14, 2026 , Win , 87, to, 69

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