TULSA, Okla. – Four Jackrabbits scored in double digits as South Dakota State used a late scoring run to outlast Oral Roberts, 77-69, in a Summit League men’s basketball clash in the Mabee Center on Thursday.
The two teams played nearly the entire game within striking distance of one another. The contest featured 14 lead changes and nine tie scores over the 40 minutes of action.
Both teams had five-point leads during the opening half before a Jaden Jackson 3-pointer at the buzzer put the Jacks up, 31-29, at halftime.
The Golden Eagles took a 36-33 lead on a Sam Alajiki 3-pointer 17:30 remaining. The Jacks responded with a seven-point scoring run to gain control of the advantage. SDSU led by six on two occasions but eventually saw the score flip the Golden Eagles’ way once until a Joe Sayler 3-pointer put SDSU ahead, 60-58. The foes were tied again when ORU’s Issac McBride connected on a jumper to make it 60-60 with 6:27 left.
South Dakota State followed with a seven-point scoring spree. Oscar Cluff made a layup, Matthew Mors drained a 3-pointer, then a pair of Cluff free throws extended the Jacks edge to 67-60 with 4:31 to play.
The Jackrabbits got up 69-61, but the Golden Eagles wouldn’t go away as a McBride four-point play and JoJo Moore layup cut their deficit to 69-67. SDSU’s ensuing possession saw Kalen Garry drill a 3-pointer to give the Jacks a two-possession cushion. The Jackrabbits made consecutive stops defensively and closed the game out at the free throw line.
The Jackrabbits improved to 20-10 overall and 11-4 in Summit League action. Oral Roberts dropped to 7-21 (3-12).
NOTES
- South Dakota State outshot Oral Roberts 46.7-40.4% from the field and 36.8-31.0% from 3-point range. Both teams made 14 free throws, though it took SDSU seven more attempts to do so.
- SDSU outrebounded ORU by a 45-28 margin led by Cluff’s 12. Cluff registered his 21st double-double of the season as he scored a team-high 22 points and dished out a game-high five assists.
- Cluff was followed in double digits scoring by Sayler (12), Jackson (11) and Stoney Hadnot (10). Hadnot nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds.
- Three Golden Eagles scored in double digits including McBride (23), Alajiki (18) and Jalen Miller (11).
- South Dakota State continues an impressive stretch in its program history by surpassing the 20-win plateau. The Jackrabbits have won 20 or more games in six of the last eight seasons, as well as in 10 of the last 14 campaigns.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State travels to Denver for its final regular season matchup before conference tournament play. The Jackrabbits face the Pioneers in Hamilton Gymnasium at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday.