Nov. 22, 2000

VERMILLION, S.D. - The University of South Dakota men's basketball team (3-0) will play Rochester College (5-1) for the first time in school history when the two teams get together Saturday, Nov. 25 at 3 p.m. in the DakotaDome. USD has won three non-conference games to open the season.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA STARTERS
#22 Jimmie Foster, 6'4", Junior Forward, Milwaukee, Wis. (15.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
#52 Jeremy Kudera, 6'7", Senior Forward, Dell Rapids, S.D. (15.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg)
#54 Jason Barrow, 6'6", Senior Center, Bloomington, Ill. (8.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
#3 Paul Marshall, 6'1", Junior Guard, Winnebago, Ill. (14.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
#4 Nate Tibbetts, 6'1", Senior Guard, Sioux Falls, S.D. (4.0 ppg, 7.7 apg, 2.0 spg)

KEY RESERVES
#24 Richard Ross, 6'4", Freshman Guard, Lincoln, Neb. (8.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg)
#30 Scott Hansen, 6'7", Junior Forward, Coleridge, Neb. (15.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
#42 Eric Hickenbottom, 6'6", Junior Guard/Forward, Agency, Iowa (9.3 ppg, 4.o rpg)
#44 Travis James, 6'2", Redshirt Sophomore, Lompoc, Calif. (2.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
#50 Steve Anderson, 6'7", Freshman Forward, Rapid City, S.D. (4.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

TEAM NUMBERS: The Coyotes have opened the season with three straight victories including a 86-80 overtime victory over Wayne State Nov. 17 and a 117-58 win over Minnesota-Morris Nov. 18 at the Quad State Classic in Morris, Minn. The Coyotes won their home opener with a 87-54 win over Mount Marty Tuesday night. USD is shooting the ball very well, having hit 100-of-179 (.559) field goals including 33-of-72 (.460) three-point field goals in the first three games. During that span, USD has made 57-of-82 (.695) free throws. The Coyotes are averaging 96.7 points per game while limiting the opposition to 64.0 ppg (+32.7 margin). The Coyotes have out-rebounded opponents 112-81 (+10.3 margin).

NONCONFERENCE STREAK AT 51: South Dakota has won 51 straight nonconference home basketball games dating back to the 1991-92 season. In the third game of that season, the Coyotes fell in overtime to Gustavus-Adolphus, 91-85 at the DakotaDome. Dave Boots is 67-1 in home nonconference games since he came to South Dakota in 1988.

HOT, HOT, HOT: Thus far this season, Scott Hansen, a transfer from Wayne State (Neb.), has hit 17-of-19 (.875) field goals including 7-of-8 (.875) from the three-point arc. Paul Marshall, a junior college transfer from Sauk Valley (Ill.), has made 15-of-20 (.750) field goals and 11-of-13 (.846) three-point field goals.

COYOTES RECORD 2ND BEST GAME POINT TOTAL IN SCHOOL HISTORY: By scoring 117 points against Minnesota-Morris Nov. 18, the Coyotes registered the second-highest point total in a single game in Coyote history. The Coyotes' record is 128 points held by the 1977-78 squad. USD's 59-point win against Minnesota-Morris also represents one of the largest margins of victory in Coyote history.

ABOUT ROCHESTER COLLEGE: Head Coach Garth Pleasant, who enters his 29th season at Rochester, has his troops off to a 5-1 start. A graduate of Lipscomb University (1971), he begins his 24th season as the Warriors head coach. He has an overall record of 467-220, which makes him the career leader in wins for all coaches in the state of Michigan. He was selected the NSCAA National Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1996. During his tenure, Rochester has won numerous district championships and competed in 16 national tournaments including a national title in 1989. The 1996, 1994, and 1984 teams lost in the NSCAA championship game. 6'7" junior Mike Robinson leads the Warriors with 16.3 points and 7.67 rebounds. Jenero Dawood, a 6'3" freshman, is averaging 14.8 points per game with 3.17 rebounds. As a team, Rochester has hit 176-of-375 (.470) field goals and 70-of-175 (.400) three-point field goals. They have made 71-of-101 (.700) free throws. The Warriors are averaging 82.2 points per game and 41.3 rebounds per game.

SEASON GAME SUMMARY:
Nov. 21 vs Mount Marty W, 87-54
Nov. 18 vs Minnesota-Morris W, 117-58
Nov. 17 vs Wayne State (Neb.) W, 86-80 (OT)