SDSU glides to easy win against Dakota State

mtraxler

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXhwqsC4Bao&list=UU0pX7uj4_88j30hXNX0aYiQ&feature=plcp[/youtube]

For Finals Week, this test for the Jacks was pretty easy.

SDSU found its stride again Monday night with another balanced approach against their nearby NAIA neighbors Dakota State in a 93-60 win.

Five SDSU players scored in double-figures and that was without star point guard Nate Wolters, who rested a sprained left ankle. The Jacks inserted Brayden Carlson to fill in Wolters’ slot at point guard, who responded with a career-high night.

“We’re being cautious. It’s pretty sore and we wanted to rest him. He should be able to play against UND,” SDSU coach Scott Nagy said.

The Trojans hung around in the first half of the game before the Jackrabbits finished on a 24-7 run to lead by 18 points at halftime. SDSU’s hot shooting continued in the second half, tallying 53 percent for the game and 60 percent in the second half. That marks the second-consecutive game the Jacks shot north of 50 percent from the floor.

Despite having some size, DSU (7-4) could not compete on the glass with the Jackrabbits, watching SDSU grab 18 offensive rebounds and held a plus-21 advantage at the game’s end.

“Our offense was different but we moved the ball well. I wish we would take care of it better but in a game like this late, it’s hard to do this,” Nagy said.

Sophomore and Madison native Chad White rolled up a season-high 22 points, with Taevaunn Prince notching 15 and Jordan Dykstra totaling 12. In fact the only guy to not get on the stat sheet for points was Carlson until later in the second half, but he finished with eight assists and five steals.

The large win allowed SDSU (9-3) to glide to another blowout win, their third win in as many games that was by at least 27. It also gave players like Wolters a breather and lone senior Griffan Callahan time on the before heading to Grand Forks, N.D. on Thursday, then to Seattle to play Washington on Sunday.

They hardly needed them Monday.

“Coach has really preached about moving the ball more and that kind of gets everybody moving the same amount,” Carlson said. “From there, we all get open shots and we can all knock them down.”