VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota State used a second-half surge to overcome an early deficit at South Dakota on Sunday to earn a 94-91 victory in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. The Jackrabbits claimed the Interstate Series, presented by First Interstate Bank, win in front of 3,942 spectators.
South Dakota jumped out to a 15-6 lead just over six minutes into the contest. SDSU worked its way into the margin and tied the score at 19-19, then claimed its first advantage of the day on an Oscar Cluff tip-in to make it 31-30 with 5:53 on the clock. He followed with a layup on the Jackrabbits’ next possession to cap an 8-0 SDSU run.
The Coyotes scored seven straight points to create some separation before halftime as USD carried a 42-40 edge into the break.
South Dakota was 7-for-14 (50%) from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes while holding SDSU to a 2-for-11 (18.2%) clip.
The second half turned quickly SDSU’s way. The Yotes got up 47-42 which would be their largest lead in the final period.
Consecutive layups by Oscar Cluff and Stoney Hadnot propelled the Jackrabbits over USD, then a Jaden Jackson 3-pointer pushed SDSU ahead 55-51. Another Jackson 3-pointer at the 10:35 mark gave the Jacks a double-digit lead, 66-56, for the first time.
A 3-pointer by Isaac Lindsey, followed by a Cluff made free throw, gave SDSU an 88-73 advantage with 3:39 to play.
South Dakota worked into the deficit, getting the margin to single digits as the clock dipped under two minutes remaining. The Yotes got the game down to a single possession when an SDSU turnover gave South Dakota the ball back with 19 seconds left. USD’s Isaac Bruns had a look with six seconds to go from 3-point range to tie the score, but his attempt fell short.
SDSU’s Joe Sayler corralled the rebound and hit two ensuing free throws to put the game out of reach.
The Jackrabbits improved to 18-9 overall and 9-3 in Summit League action with the victory. The Coyotes fell to 16-11 (7-5).
NOTES
- South Dakota State had four double-digit scorers in the contest in Cluff (21), Jackson (19), Mors (15) and Sayler (10). Cluff produced his seventh nation-leading 20-point, 15-rebound performance as he grabbed 16 boards. He also had a game-high five assists.
- Jackson matched his career high in points by going 7 of 9 from the floor. He also matched his career-high 22 minutes played.
- Mors tied his season high of 15 points. He was 5 of 8 from the field and grabbed four rebounds.
- Four Coyotes scored double figures led by 20-point efforts from Bruns (21) and Dre Bullock (20).
- SDSU was forced into 15 turnovers compared to USD’s seven. The Jacks had a significant advantage on the glass outrebounding the Yotes 44-30. South Dakota State narrowly finished with a shooting edge of 49-47%. SDSU held USD to 3 of 16 from deep in the second half.
- South Dakota State has now won 10 straight meetings against South Dakota. The winning streak is the longest in the all-time series between the two programs, topping a nine-game stretch for the Jackrabbits over the Coyotes from 1920-23.
- The Jackrabbits have won 24 of the last 30 meetings including the last four matchups in Vermillion.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State returns home for its final two games in First Bank & Trust Arena of the season. The Jackrabbits are slated to host North Dakota State in Brookings at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.