2023-12-22 06:12:44
Next Game:
at North Dakota State
12/29/2023 | 7 p.m.
Summit League Network
KVHT 106.3
Dec. 29 (Fri) / 7 p.m.
at North Dakota State
History
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – San Diego won its eighth-straight home game this season in a 69-66 win over South Dakota inside Jenny Craig Pavilion on Thursday night.
San Diego (9-4) was led by 20 points from Wayne McKinney III. He went 7-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from three in 32 minutes of action. Senior transfer PJ Hayes added 14 points on 4-of-6 three-point attempts and 5-of-9 shooting from the field. The Black Hills State transfer knocked down the three that tied the game at 53-53 and the three that gave San Diego a 61-54 lead with just under seven minutes to play in the second half.
Paul Bruns put up a season-high 26 points with six three-pointers for South Dakota (7-6). Bruns went 6-for-6 from the free throw line and his 26 points were just one point shy of his career high. Bostyn Holt added 14 points and 11 rebounds to record his first double-double at South Dakota.
The Coyotes came out hot to start the game, going on an early run to take an 18-8 lead with just over 13 minutes to play in the first half. Bruns had back-to-back three-point plays to help South Dakota extend the lead and he scored 13 of his 26 points in the first half. The Yotes led by as many as 14 in the first half, but San Diego broke out of its scoring slump midway through the first half and started chipping away at the lead. An 11-0 run over a five-minute span helped the Toreros cut the lead down to two with just under three minutes until the halftime break. Hayes hit his second three pointer of the game to give San Diego its second lead of the game at 34-33 with just over a minute to play. Kaleb Stewart drew a foul and knocked down two at the charity stripe to tie the game at 37-37 heading into halftime.
Bruns came out hot once more to start the second half, knocking down three quick three-pointers to bump the Yotes’ lead back up to double-digits with just under 14 minutes to play in regulation. South Dakota shot just 29.7 percent from the field in the second half while San Diego went on an 18-1 run to take back the lead late in the second half. Holt had yet another driving layup for the Yotes to come within three at 66-63 but McKinney III hit one free throw to make it a two-possession game once more with 12 seconds to play. Holt drove in another layup that just missed the mark and Bruns’ buzzer-beating three pointer counted but came too late as the Toreros held on to win 69-66 and remain undefeated at home.
With the win over South Dakota, the Toreros have now won four games when they have trailed by double digits in the first half but have come back to win the game.
South Dakota won the rebounding battle but had more turnovers while San Diego shot the ball better. The Yotes had 24 bench points and outscored the Toreros in the paint 34-26.
Lahat Thioune recorded his fifth double-double on the year with 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Kaleb Stewart had 12 points and three triples in 37 minutes of action. Max Burchill grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
The Coyotes return to the Midwest but the road stretch continues as they begin Summit League play at North Dakota State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Fargo on Dec. 29.
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