2023-12-30 21:34:08
By: Mercede Odegaard, USD Sports Information
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The Game
Summit League play continues as South Dakota hosts Omaha on Sunday inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion.
Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be available on the CBS Sports Network. Fans can also tune into the game on the Coyote Sports Network with John Thayer on KVHT 106.3 FM in Yankton/Vermillion, KQSF 95.7 in Sioux Falls, or by using the Varsity Network app.
All high school students will receive $1 admission to the game.
The Coyotes
South Dakota (8-6, 1-0 Summit) returns home for the first time since Dec. 9 following a four-game road stretch.
Junior transfer Kaleb Stewart is back in the starting lineup following a lower leg injury once morest Air Force on Nov. 26 put him on the bench. Stewart made his third start since being back from the injury on Dec. 29 at North Dakota State and dropped a career-high 33 points. He made four of his six three-point attempts and shot 59 percent from the field. In his three games back in the starting lineup, Stewart has averaged 20.3 points on 54.8 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent shooting from the three-point line.
Senior transfer Lahat Thioune is the Coyotes’ leading rebounder at 10.2 rebounds per game. Thioune leads the league with six double-doubles this season and leads the league in all four rebounding categories: rebounds (133), defensive rebounds per game (6.6), offensive rebounds per game (3.6), and rebounds per game (10.2). The 6’10 forward grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds in South Dakota’s Summit League opener win over North Dakota State.
As a squad, the Yotes are shooting a league-leading 37.8 percent from behind the three-point line (22nd in the NCAA). South Dakota averages 7.9 three pointers per game and are led beyond the arc by junior Paul Bruns. Bruns has knocked down 28 threes so far this season and is shooting 35.9 percent from the three-point line.
Bruns scored a season-high 26 points on Dec. 21 at San Diego, just one point shy of his career-high. Bruns, who has scored in double-figures in seven of the last nine games, went 6-of-6 from the free throw line and hit a season-high six three-pointers.
The Mavericks
Omaha (7-8, 0-1 Summit) is looking to bounce back from a 95-80 loss to Denver on opening night of league play. The Mavericks led 43-40 at the half but mightn’t hold on for the win over the league-leading Pioneers.
Junior guard Frankie Fidler scored a season-high 32 points once morest the Pioneers on Thursday. He went 9-of-15 from the field and hit three of his seven three-point attempts in his fourth career 30+ point scoring game.
Senior transfer Nick Davis joins the Mavericks following four seasons at Southern Nazarene. Davis was named the Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was an all-conference honoree following leading the Crimson Storm to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA DII National Championship. Davis had a season-high three blocked shots once morest Denver on Thursday and has 12 blocked shots on the season.
The Series
Sunday’s matchup marks the 116th meeting between South Dakota and Omaha. The Coyotes own a 64-51 advantage over the Mavericks and have won seven of the last eight meetings. South Dakota and Omaha split the regular season last year, with both teams defending their home courts.
One Last Thing
South Dakota is 39-17 once morest Omaha at home and the Coyotes are currently 4-1 at home so far this season. The Mavericks have yet to win a road game this season with an 0-6 record away from home.
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