Brian Kimmes

The men’s basketball team looks to close out a troubled season with two home victories in their last two games.

The Jacks enter the final home games having lost eight games in a row, including an 86-69 loss to rival North Dakota State in their last contest. SDSU’s last victory was an 82-67 drubbing of Texas-Pan America in Frost Arena Jan. 27.

Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne and New Jersey Institute of Technology travel to Brookings for contests against the Jacks. Neither IPFW nor NJIT own a winning record, so the Jacks have a chance to close out the season with two consecutive victories.

“We hope we can get two wins to finish the season,” Head Coach Scott Nagy said.

The Jacks have been on the road for five of their past six games. Their last home contest was a one-point loss to California State Northridge.

Nagy feels his team had played about the same on the road or at home, but he said the players enjoy being at home.

March 1 and 3 will be the last two opportunities to see the men’s team this season. Nagy hopes the fans will come out to support the team, especially the students.

“We need our students (to support the team),” he said.

The first opportunity to support the team is on March 1, when IPFW braves the world’s largest rabbit den in an attempt to defeat the Jacks for the fourth consecutive time. The Jacks lost to the Mastodons, 68-52, in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Feb. 10.

Nagy said the team must play with high energy in order to have a chance to break the losing streak.

“We need to a better job of defending their inside play,” Nagy said.

Last time the two teams played, two NJIT forwards, Tyler Best and Jaraun Burrows, combined for 28 points and 13 rebounds.

March 1 is also senior night for the men’s team. Seniors Andy Kleinjan and Jose Frias will be recognized for their commitment to Jackrabbit basketball.

The final home game of the season is against NJIT on March 3. NJIT has only won two of their past 11 games.