The South Dakota State men’s basketball team snuck out of Vermillion with a win today, hanging on to a 94-91 victory over the South Dakota Coyotes.
The Jacks improved to 9-3 in Summit League play to stay in the hunt for the regular season conference championship while separating themselves from the red-hot Coyotes.
But it took everything the Jacks had to come away with the win, including a career-high day in scoring by Jaden Jackson.
The Coyotes made the first push jumping out to a 17-9 lead in the first seven minutes of the game, but it took the Jacks just three minutes to knot things up at 19. Over the final 10 minutes of the first half, neither team gained a lead larger than five.
In the second half, SDSU guard Owen Larson got into foul trouble early, forcing Jackson to play key minutes down the stretch.
Jackson, in his most impactful game as a Jackrabbit, connected on four-of-five three-point shots, with his last three pushing the SDSU lead to 10 halfway through the second half.
Jackson finished with 19 points shooting 7-of-9 from the field and four-of-five from beyond the arc, adding three rebounds as well.
An Oscar Cluff layup gave the Jacks a 15-point lead with just under four minutes to play, but the ‘Yotes weren’t done yet.
USD used a suffocating press that forced three Jackrabbit turnovers assisting a 16-4 run in just under three minutes.
Down by three with just 25 seconds left, USD forced yet another turnover giving Coyote guard Isaac Bruns a chance to tie the game but missed the long ball with six ticks remaining.
Joe Sayler was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass and sunk both free throws to seal the win for SDSU.
Cluff was once again a force down low totaling 21 points and 16 rebounds while dishing out five assists. Matthew Mors played a huge role, scoring 15 points, and bringing down four boards in the win.
Joe Sayler, despite a 2-for-12 day from the floor, still hit double figures with 10 points for SDSU.
For USD, Bruns had 21 points in the loss, Dre Bullock tallied 20 points, four rebounds, and three assists while Caleb Forte recorded 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists for the Coyotes.
Up Next
The Jackrabbits return to Brookings for their final two home games of the season, starting on Wednesday with the North Dakota State Bison. Tip-off inside First Bank & Trust Arena is slated for 7 p.m. and can be watched on the Summit League Network through Midco Sports Plus.
