BROOKINGS, S.D. – Three Jackrabbits scored in double figures as the South Dakota State men’s basketball team defeated Eastern Washington, 74-53, in First Bank & Trust Arena on Saturday.
The Eagles got out to a 5-0 lead after making their first two field goals of the contest. SDSU tied the score less than three minutes into the matchup and used a 12-2 scoring run to go up 12-7 just three minutes later.
The margin remained within five until the clock showed 5 minutes, 12 seconds left in the half. South Dakota State closed out the opening half by holding Eastern Washington scoreless and utilized a 16-0 run, capped by six consecutive points from Isaac Lindsey, to go into the halftime break up 42-22.
South Dakota State went up by as many as 24 points early in the second half following a pair of free throws by Matthew Mors. The Eags whittled away at the deficit, getting the margin down to 10 with 8:47 to play. Field goals by Joe Sayler and Oscar Cluff, along with a 3-pointer by Kalen Garry, were part of a 7-1 span by the Jacks to keep the Eagles at bay.
SDSU never saw its advantage dip into single digits over the course of the second half.
The Jackrabbits controlled the matchup in several facets Saturday. SDSU out-rebounded Eastern Washington 47-23. The Jacks, while shooting 40.6% from the field and 22.6% from 3-point range, held the Eagles to 36.4% clip including a 4-for-22 (18.1%) line from deep. That 3-point mark was the lowest shot by a Jackrabbit opponent this season.
South Dakota State improved to 8-3 overall with the victory. Eastern Washington fell to 2-8.
NOTES
- The Jackrabbits are 5-0 in First Bank & Trust Arena this season and 3-0 all-time against Eastern Washington.
- Cluff, who did not play in SDSU’s last game at Montana due to injury, returned to action and played 22 minutes. He scored 19 points on 8 of 9 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. Cluff registered his eighth double-double of the season.
- Joining Cluff in double digits were Mors and Sayler. Mors scored 14 points for the second straight game while he snagged seven boards. He matched his career high of three assists. Sayler recorded 18 points.
- SDSU finished 15-for-16 at the free throw line. The Jackrabbits’ 93.8% clip at the charity stripe was their best of the season.
- Eastern Washington’s 53 points were their second lowest total of the campaign. Andrew Cook was the lone Eagle in double figures with 13 points.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State hits the road for a two-game road trip this upcoming week. The Jackrabbits face Nevada in Reno at 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday, followed by an 8 p.m. CT game at Colorado on Friday.