Feb. 10, 2001

Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D. - The South Dakota men's basketball team (20-3, 13-2 in the NCC) did not have a particularly strong offensive night, but the Coyotes turned up the defense and rolled to a 68-52 win over the North Dakota Fighting Sioux on Saturday night before 2,756 at the DakotaDome. It is South Dakota's fifth straight win over North Dakota. South Dakota's win and a 90-82 loss by South Dakota State to Augustana on Saturday provides the Coyotes with a two game lead in the NCC race.

South Dakota won their 13th North Central Conference game in 15 chances this season. The Coyotes received double figure scoring from four players as the two-time defending NCC champs reached the 20-win mark for the third consecutive season. This is the ninth time that the Coyotes have reached 20 wins while Dave Boots has served as head coach. The Coyotes improved Boots' win total to 269-103 (.723) at South Dakota. His Coyotes' have compiled an impressive 162-31 (.839) record at the DakotaDome. Boots owns a career record of 384-166 (.698).

Junior guard Paul Marshall, junior forward Jimmie Foster and junior forward Scott Hansen all scored 11 points for South Dakota while senior point guard Nate Tibbetts added 10 points and eight assists to lead the Coyotes. On this night, the Coyotes struggled in the early going as North Dakota opened up a 4-0 lead (16:51) on two baskets by Kyle Behrens of UND, who had 21 points on the night. South Dakota finally scored when Foster hit a pair of foul shots with 15:17 to play in the first half. Those shots began a 9-0 run by South Dakota which included a lay-up by Tibbetts, two foul shots by Jason Barrow and a three-point goal by Scott Hansen, whose shot at the 13:19 mark gave the Coyotes a 9-4 lead. UND's Jeff Brandt answered with a three-point basket at the 12:13 mark to draw the visitors within 9-7. Then, the Coyotes took off on another 10-0 run as Tibbetts hit a three-pointer and a lay-up for the 19-7 lead with 8:09 to play. While the Coyotes were off a bit shooting, they maintained enough offensive pressure to stay in front. UND fought back with a 7-0 run of their own, capped by a lay-up by Curtis Munlin at the 4:46 mark to close the gap to 19-14.

Again the Coyotes forged some offense and moved ahead 25-16 when Foster hit a jump shot. A lay-up by junior forward Eric Hickenbottom have the Coyotes a 27-17 lead with 2:14 to play in the opening half. Two free throws by Behrens and anoterh three-point goal by Brandt cut the gap to 27-22 with 1:24 to play. South Dakota's Hansen hit a three-point basket with 16 seconds left in the half but Tom Jacobsen nailed a jumper to pull UND within 33-26 at the break.

In the opening half, the Coyotes hit 11 of 34 shots for just 32.4 percent and were just four of 12 from three-point range, with two of those baskets coming from Tibbetts, who led South Dakota with 10 first-half points and five assists. South Dakota hit seven of 10 free throws in the first half. Meanwhile, North Dakota hit just 10 of 25 shots for 40 percent and were just two of seven from three-point range for 28.6 percent. They were four of seven from the free throw line. Behrens had 14 points to lead the Fighting Sioux in the opening half of play.

South Dakota came out on fire in the second half, outscoring UND, 14-2 in the opening seven minutes of play. A three-pointer by Marshall gave South Dakota a 41-28 lead with 14:42 to play. Then Kudera had a pair of foul shots and an inside basket and Marshall had two free throws as South Dakota built a 47-28 lead with 12:42 left in the game. The Coyotes increased their advantage to 51-31 when Marshall hit a jumper at the 10:42 mark.

Earlier this season, UND had a second half surge to send the game at Grand Forks into overtime before the Coyotes prevailed, 71-68. But the Fighting Sioux had trouble scoring tonight. The Coyotes opened up a 58-36 lead on a three-point basket by Hansen at the 7:15 mark. Two foul shots by Behrens cut the lead to 59-42 with 4:20 to play, but Jeremy Kudera hit a three-pointer at the 3:23 mark and the Coyotes had a 62-42 lead. North Dakota ended the game on a 10-6 run but the issue had already been settled. A three-pointer by Corey Sheplee of UND closed the scoring with 10 seconds left to play.

Overall, South Dakota hit 22 of 58 shots for 37.9 percent and was nine of 22 from three-point range for 40.9 percent. They hit 15 of 21 free throws for 71.4 percent. Kudera had seven points and eight rebounds while Barrow had eight points and six rebounds. Besides his 11 points, Marshall had a career-high seven rebounds. Hansen added six boards for South Dakota that won the rebound battle, 45-30. South Dakota had 13 offensive boards, including three by Kudera.

North Dakota was just 19 of 52 from the field for 36.5 percent and hit only five of 20 three-point field goals for 25 percent. They were nine of 14 from the foul line for 64.3 percent. Behrens was the only double figure scorer for the Fighting Sioux, who received nine points and four rebounds from Brandt. Munlin added eight points.