Last season, en route to a 5-12 finish in Summit League play, the South Dakota men's basketball team won consecutive conference games only one time.  In 2014, the Coyotes have started league play with back-to-back wins after knocking off IUPUI Thursday night 69-57.

USD had the hot hand early, shooting 61% from the floor over the first 12:30, hitting 4 3-pointers, and pulling down 11 rebounds, to open up a 29-21 lead, with six players contributing points.

The Jags bounced back with a 10-3 run moments later when PJ Hubert and Marcellus Barksdale hit back-to-back threes while USD went cold from the floor, making just one of their next eight, and the lead, that had been eight, was now just 1.

IUPUI got 11 first half point from Donovan Gibbs off the bench to give them a 33-32 lead at halftime.

In the second half, another strong USD start, a 6-1 run to open, as Trevor Gruis and Brandon Bos each contributed baskets.

Over the final 5:00, USD went to work inside with four straight baskets in the paint, including a dunk and put back by Tyler Flack. In all, the Coyotes scored 14 of the game's last 17 points.

After that, the Coyotes sealed the victory from the free throw line, hitting six in the final minute to get the 12-point win.

Bos finished with 21 points, Gruis with 18, as USD finished with 7 3-pointers and shot 88% from the free throw line.

The Coyotes (7-9/2-0) host Fort Wayne Saturday at 4:00pm.

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