South Dakota State Men Drop Western Illinois in Summit League Play
South Dakota State and Western Illinois finished in a dead heat atop the Summit League standings 2013, but the one thing the Leathernecks could do last season was beat the Jackrabbits head-to-head.
Thursday night they got their first chance this season, but once again SDSU had their number, winning 64-55.
SDSU opened strong at home, hitting 4-of-10, including a pair 3-pointers in the first 5:00 to open up an early 6-point advantage. Jordan Dykstra had 6 of the first ten points, but his teammates helped without the ball, dishing out three assists on the first four field goals.
Western Illinois went on a run of their own at the midway point of the half, as Garret Covington hit 4 of his first 6 shots for 10 points and a tie game at 15 with 10:49 left.
More team basketball for the Jacks stretched that advantage back to 26-21, as five different players (Brayden Carlson, Marcus Heemstra, Connor Devine, Cody Larson, and Chad White) reeled off baskets over a five minute stretch.
The Jacks also controlled the boards in the first half, holding a 18-13 edge.
32-27 SDSU at the half.
South Dakota State came out with another run to start the second half, reeling off 10 of the first 12 points, to open up a 13-point lead.
The Leathernecks got as close as five, but the Jacks had too much balance down the stretch, finishing with 20 points from Dykstra, 16 from Carlson, and a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) from Larson.
SDSU (10-8/2-1) hosts Omaha Saturday afternoon at 4:00pm.