VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota basketball improved to 6-0 at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center Wednesday night with a 94-80 win over Idaho State in its first game of the Big Sky – Summit Challenge.
Chase Forte was all over the court for the Coyotes pouring in a team-high 21 points to go with six assists, five rebounds, five steals and one block. Forte’s five takeaways was one off a career-high and set a new season best after tallying four in the season opener against Southern.
It was the fifth game of the season where the Coyotes scored over 90 points and are now 4-0 when reaching that point total. Led by Paul Bruns’ four 3-pointers on the night, the Coyotes hit double-digits treys for the fifth time this season, and for the second time in the past three games. USD went 11-for-21 from deep to record its best percentage (.524) from deep in a game this season.
Everyone chipped in on the offensive side of the floor, a common theme for this team to begin the season, as the Yotes had five players reach double-figure scoring. Following Forte’s 21-point output was Isaac Bruns (18), Paul Bruns (14), Cameron Fens (11) and Kaleb Stewart (10).
The Yotes started quick to build a 10-3 lead following a Dre Bullock triple four minutes into the game. After the Bengals cut the lead down to three, 13-10, Paul Bruns started a 3-point barrage as USD connected on four straight treys on the next four possessions. Paul Bruns knocked down three of the triples, while Bullock connected on his second of the game. South Dakota took its largest lead of the first half following six straight points from Isaac Bruns, 41-24 with 2:47 left in the half. Isaac Bruns was the first player in double-figures as he had 13 to help the Yotes take a 46-33 lead into halftime.
Fens set the tone to begin the second half as he threw down a monster slam, off a dish from Forte, and the Yotes would carry a double-digit lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Bengals briefly brought the Yotes lead back to single digits, but a layup from Fens would start a 12-3 run that gave the Yotes a 77-62 advantage with 6:38 left. The Coyotes stymied any Bengal attempt at a run, led by the Coyote seniors Forte, Stewart and Paul Bruns who scored 11 of the final 13 USD points to earn the Coyotes sixth win at the SCSC.
The Coyotes will now travel for their second game of the Big Sky – Summit Challenge when they face Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Arizona at 1:00 p.m. CT Saturday.
Notes
- South Dakota is a perfect 6-0 on its home floor and 7-3 on the season
- Chase Forte scored 20+ points for the second game in a row
- Forte did a little bit of everything with 21 points, six assists, five rebounds, five steals and one block
- Forte has now scored 20+ in three games this season
- The Yotes move to 4-0 on the season when scoring 90+ points
- Isaac Bruns scored in double-figures for the ninth game this season
- Eight Yotes grabbed three or more rebounds, led by Fens and Forte who had five each
- The Yotes shot greater than .500 percent from beyond the arc for the first time this season and knocked down 10+ triples for the fifth time
- USD gave up 20 offensive rebounds on the night, but limited the Bengals to just 14 second chance points
- The Yotes 32 free throws are tied for the second most this season and the 25 makes are tied for their most in a single game (vs East Texas A&M 11/6/24)