BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State shot 59% from the floor in the first half and eventually cruised to an 89-41 victory over Mount Marty on Monday, Nov. 18, inside First Bank & Trust Arena.
The two sides played a tight contest in the opening moments of the game as the score was tied 14-14 with 14 minutes remaining in the first half.
A pair of consecutive Nate Barnhart dunks gave SDSU the lead and the Jackrabbits didn’t look back from that point on. The Jackrabbits pushed the lead into double digits with 7:35 left in the half and an 11-point scoring run gave them a 51-30 lead at halftime.
The Jackrabbit defense stifled the Lancers in the second half. Mount Marty scored 11 points over the contest’s final 20 minutes as the visitors shot just 20.8% from the floor during the stretch.
South Dakota State finished the game by going 32-for-60 (53.3%) from the field. The Jacks also were 17 of 23 (73.9%) at the free throw line. The Lancers were just 33.3% shooting on the night.
Leading the Jackrabbits in scoring were Oscar Cluff (14), Kalen Garry (13) and Stoney Hadnot (11). Cluff had nine rebounds while he was followed by William Whorton and Matthew Mors who had five apiece. Garry and Owen Larson each had four assists.
South Dakota State improved to 3-1 overall with the victory. The game served as an exhibition for Mount Marty.
NOTES
- SDSU totaled a season-high 17 assists in the matchup. The Jacks also finished with a 42-21 edge in rebounds
- Monday’s game served as debuts for Isaac Lindsey and Damon Wilkinson. Lindsey played his first game in the Yellow and Blue while Wilkinson made his first collegiate appearance. The two each scored eight points.
- Mount Marty never led in the contest as South Dakota State was ahead on the score line for over 38 minutes.
- The 41 points the Jackrabbits held the Lancers to are the lowest given up to an opponent by SDSU since 2015. The Jackrabbits earned a 69-39 victory over Denver on Jan. 31, 2015.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State is back in First Bank & Trust Arena on Wednesday for another non-conference matchup. The Jacks host Southern Miss as the second part of a home-and-home series at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Brookings.