Simply put, the Summit League’s top team played to the level of the bottom team in the conference, before the talent took over.

SDSU used its bench to finally take out the Thunderbirds with a 65-43 win over on Saturday at Frost Arena, on a night where the Jacks did not play to their potential. Nevertheless, the Jacks upped their record to 12-1 in the Summit League.

The Jacks struggled to execute offensively all game long, but used a strong defensive effort to force 24 turnovers and once again saw huge production from their bench who outscored the starters by one point and the SUU bench by 18.

“It was a sluggish game and we didn’t get going offensively and we just kind of stuck in the mud,” SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said, fitting on the night of the 40th Pork Classic.

Add in that there were 48 fouls called and the game lent itself to a plodding pace.

“It shouldn’t be hard to get up for it. I don’t think we were overlooking them but we just ahve to be ready to play every game,” Katie Lingle said.

Ashley Eide led the Jacks with 11 points, followed by Jennie Sunnarborg with 10. Eide and Sunnarborg were the only two Jacks in double figures, and Sunnarborg was held scoreless in the first half. For SUU, Andrea Jones led scorers with 13 and DJ Norman came off the bench to contribute 11. The starting five collected only seven of the team’s 32 rebounds, but seven of the teams 12 turnovers.

Johnston noted that they always tell their players not to overlook any opponent, but it’s sometimes difficult to be able to tell if that’s being obeyed. Up next for the Jacks is Summit League foe Oral Roberts on Feb 6. ORU is currently in 2nd place in the conference, and only two games behind the Jacks.

“We played good enough offensively but we didn’t execute and we’ll have to work on that,” Eide said.