USD to Take on Oklahoma Panhandle State and Colorado State-Pueblo in Omaha, Neb. The 23rd-ranked South Dakota men's basketball team (2-0) will host NCAA Division III member Simpson College (1-1) in the DakotaDome on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. The Coyotes will then travel to Omaha, Neb., to participate in the UNO Classic, Nov. 25-26. USD will face Oklahoma Panhandle State (0-2) at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25 and Colorado State-Pueblo (2-0) at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26.

On Simpson The Storm enter play tonight with a 1-1 record, including a 96-84 win over Washington University (Mo.) on Nov. 19 and a 73-43 loss to Wisconsin-Platteville on Nov. 18. As a team, Simpson is averaging 69.5 points and allowing 78.5 per game. Jason Soppe is averaging 18.0 points and grabbing 9.5 rebounds per game. Ryan Hittenmiller is scoring 15.0 points and taking down 4.5 rebounds per game while Scott Ellens is averaging 12.5 points and Jason Parkinson is chipping in with 12.0 points per game. Overall, Simpson has hit 51-of-119 field for 42.9 percent while making 13-of-37 three point field goals for 35.1 percent. Simpson is 24-of-41 from the foul line. They averaging 15.5 points, 20.0 turnovers and 11.5 steals per game. The Storm also outrebound its' opponents, 35.5 to 31.0.

Head coach Bruce Wilson, who is entering his 21st season at Simpson, has recorded the most wins by a head coach in school history. Wilson holds a 291-228 (.561) record.

On Oklahoma Panhandle State The Aggies are 0-2 following losses to West Texas A&M (77-67, Nov. 15) and Division I foe Wichita State (83-55, Nov. 18). OPSU will take on Midwestern State on Tuesday Nov. 22, before participating in the UNO Classic.

OPSU is averaging 61 points and 31 rebounds per game, while allowing 85.5 points and 42.5 rebounds per game. The Aggies are shooting 35% (42-of-120) from the field, including 35.3% (18-of-51) behind the three-point line. OPSU has made 69% (20-of-29) of its free throws.

Eddie Moss leads the team at 13.0 points per game, while William Preston is scoring 10.5 points per game. Forward Nick Malinowski is the leading rebounder with 6.0 per game.

Head coach Curt Connor holds a 9-19 overall record in his second season at OPSU.

On Colorado State-Pueblo The Timberwolves (2-0) enter the UNO Thanksgiving Classic after downing Lewis and Clark (94-80, Nov. 18) and Willamette (63-56, Nov. 19) at the CSUP's Al Kaly Shrine Classic.

This season, CSUP is averaging 78.5 points and 40 rebounds per game, while allowing 68 points and 26.5 rebounds per contest. The Timberwolves are shooting 57% (65-of-114) from the field and have connected on 10-of-23 (43.5%) from three-point range. At the foul line, CSUP has hit 53.1% (17-of-32).

Leading the way for CSUP is 6-8, 235-pound center Steve Raquet, a transfer from Baylor. In two games, Raquet has averaged 18 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. Also averaging a double-double is Brian Wood at 14 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest. Jermaine Symonds and Luis Marquez average 13.0 and 12.0 points per game, resptectively.

Head coach Pat Eberhart is in his first season at CSUP.

USD vs. Simpson, OPSU, CSUP USD holds a 1-0 lead in the all-time series with Simpson. On Dec. 21, 2001, the Coyotes handed Simpson a 79-50 defeat in the DakotaDome. The victory was USD's 60th straight home nonconference win. Jimmie Foster and Eric Hickenbottom led the Coyotes with 15 points each, while Paul Marshal added 11 points. Sophomore Steve Anderson recorded his third double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Jesse Harris paced the Storm with 14 points and seven rebounds.

This will be the first ever meeting between the Coyotes and both Oklahoma Panhandle State and Colorado State-Pueblo.

A Look at the South Dakota Men's Team USD won its own basketball classic by defeating Northern Michigan, 72-68 on Nov. 18; and upending Bemidji State, 72-68 on Nov. 19 at the DakotaDome.

The Coyotes are led by senior All-American forward Turner Trofholz (Schuyler, Neb.), who has opened the season by scoring 20.5 points and grabbing 9.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Eric Hall of Huron, S.D., is scoring 18.0 points per game and grabbing 4.0 rebounds. He had his career high with 28 points in the win over Northern Michigan. He knocked down 7-of-10 three-pointers, which are also career bests. Senior point guard David Nour is scoring 13.0 points per game and handing out 6.5 assists per game. As a team, the Coyotes have hit 48-of-100 field goals for 48 percent and 23-of-47 three-point field goals for 48.9 percent. USD is also 31-of-51 from the foul line (60.8 percent). In two games, USD is averaging 75 points while allowing 72 per game. As a team, USD is averaging 6.5 steals, 18.0 assists and 15 turnovers per game. USD and its opponents both have grabbed 35.0 rebounds per game.

USD's Last Time Out Coyote Men Score 78-76 Win over Bemidji State The 23rd-ranked South Dakota men's basketball team (2-0) rallied to defeat the Bemidji State Beavers (1-2), 78-76, in the final game of the USD Basketball Classic at the DakotaDome Saturday, Nov. 19.

USD, who was led by three players in double figures, scored 30 of its 78 points in the paint.

All-American Turner Trofholz (Schuyler, Neb.) scored a game-high 26 points and completed the double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds. It was the 15th double-double of his career.

The Coyotes' David Nour, a senior from Armour, S.D., finished with 14 points and seven assists. None of Nour's points were bigger than the three-pointer he hit with 50 seconds left in the contest that gave USD the lead, 77-76.

After a miss by Bemidji State, the Beavers fouled Nour, who made one of two free throws with 10 seconds left. Following a BSU timeout with 5.1 seconds left, the Coyotes forced a desperation three-point shot by BSU that fell short as time expired.

The Beavers, who placed four players in double figures, were paced by Duane Fields's 16 points. Stacey Pearson-Taylor added 14 points and seven assists, while Derik Hollyfield and Spencer Carter finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Carter led BSU with nine rebounds.

As a team, USD shot 52.9% from the field on 27-of-51 shooting. Behind the arc, the Coyotes knocked down 11-of-19 (57.9%) shots. Free throws posed a problem for South Dakota as they made just 13-of-25 attempts (52.0%).

South Dakota, which also received 10 points from junior Darrick Leonard (Hazel Crest, Ill.), finished with a 36-31 rebounding advantage.

Bemidji State shot 46% (29-of-63) from the field, including 9-of-26 (34.6%) from three-point range. The Beavers made 9-of-12 attempts (75%) from the foul line.

USD Men's Basketball Opens 2005-06 Season with 72-68 Win The 23rd-ranked South Dakota men's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2005-06 season with a 72-68 win over Northern Michigan (0-1) behind a career-high 28 points from sophomore Eric Hall at the DakotaDome in the South Dakota Classic, on Friday, Nov. 18.

Hall, who tied NMU's Ricky Volcy with a game-high 28 points, fell one three-point basket shy of tying the school-record for treys in a game as he connected on 7-of-9 from behind the arc.

The game, which saw 14 lead changes and seven ties, was played back and forth for much of the contest.

South Dakota started the game with a David Nour (Armour, S.D.) steal at 19:40, which turned into the first of Hall's three-pointers 10 seconds later. The USD lead eventually diminished, but was later returned to a three-point Coyote advantage, 14-11, when reshirt freshman Jesse Becker (Plymouth, Minn.) connected on a three at 12:58, assisted by freshman Mitch Begeman (Sioux Falls, S.D.).

Northern Michigan proceeded to go on an 11-0 run to lead 22-14 at the 10:11 mark, that was stopped by Nour with a three of his own at 9:32. However, NMU would lead the remainder of the half and post a 38-35 margin at the break.

In the second half, USD picked up the defense and with Volcy on the bench with four fouls, re-took the lead at 9:29 on a pair of Hall free throws.

Until the 3:36 mark, when the Coyotes took the lead for good on a jumper in the paint by senior All-American Turner Trofholz (Schuyler, Neb.), no team had a lead greater than two points.

After the bucket by Trofholz, USD knocked down seven of its 10 free throws to seal the win.

While each team had three players score in double figures, USD collected 17 from outside sources, while the Wildcats had just two other players score six points each.

Trofholz finished in double figures for the 36th consecutive time by posting 15 points and pulling down eight rebounds, while Nour tallied 12 points and led all players with six assists.

NMU garnered 16 points from Randy Alexandre, who was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and made 4-of-5 free throws, and 12 points from Nick Buck. Volcy led all players with 11 rebounds to complete the double-double.

For the game, USD shot 42.9% (21-of-49), including 12-of-28 (42.9%) from downtown. The Coyotes earned 26 foul shots in the game, 10 more than their opponent, and connected on 18 for 69.2%.

USD, which was outrebounded by Northern Michigan, 39-34, forced 19 Wildcat turnovers that led to 20 points.

NMU shot 44.8% (26-of-58) from the field, made 8-of-27 three's (29.6%) and converted just 8-of-16 attempts (50%).

Trofholz Returns as League MVP; Picks up Preseason National Player of the Year Honors Turner Trofholz, a senior on the South Dakota men's basketball team, has been named the Division II Bulletin Preseason Player of the Year, the publication released on Oct. 16. Trofholz becomes USD's first ever men's basketball player to earn the award.

Trofholz, who was a NABC All-American and Daktronics Third-Team All-American in 2005, returns for his senior season after averaging 21.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as a junior. He also earned Academic All-North Central Conference and First-Team ESPN Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All District VII honors a year ago. Trofholz has already picked up Preseason All-American honors from Street & Smith's Magazine for the 2005-06 season.

"Turner is the top player in one of the toughest league's in the country, so he is a very deserving recipient of this award," said Division II Bulletin editor Gary Rubin. "With his experience he should have another great year ahead of him."

Named the NCC MVP, Trofholz led USD to a school-record 27-6 mark and second-place finish in the league last year. He was selected the NCC Postseason Tournament MVP, leading the Coyotes to the NCC Postseason Tournament title and automatic berth to the national tournament, by scoring 71 points and 28 rebounds in three games.

In the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Tournament, USD qualified for the regional finals with wins over Nebraska-Kearney and Winona State (Minn.) before falling to Metro State (Colo.). In the regional tournament, Trofholz tallied 87 points, which included a career-high 42 in the win over UNK, and 27 rebounds en route to being named to the all-tournament team.

In the 2004-05 season, the 6-8, 235-pound native of Schuyler, Neb., notched eight double-doubles and scored in double figures in all 33 games. He currently has a string of 35 consecutive games in double figure points dating back to the 2003-04 season.

For his career, Trofholz has scored in double figures 61 times and notched 14 career double-doubles.

USD Men's Basketball Picked Second in NCC Preseason Poll The South Dakota men's basketball team, which posted a school-record 27-6 mark a year ago, has been picked to finish second in the North Central Conference preseason media poll according to a release from the league office, Nov. 10.

The Coyotes, led by 18th-year head coach Dave Boots, totaled 58 points in the voting, including three first-place votes, three second-place votes, two third-place votes and one each for fourth, fifth and sixth.

Nebraska-Omaha, the defending league champions, had 73 points, including seven first-place votes.

Following USD in the voting were Minnesota State, third with 50 points, Minnesota-Duluth fourth with 46, St. Cloud State received 34 points for fifth, while North Dakota was sixth with 29 points and Augustana, seventh with 18.

USD returns four players with significant playing time from a team that placed second in the conference, won the NCC/Wells Fargo Finals and advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

South Dakota Head Coach Dave Boots Eighteen years ago, Dave Boots took over a struggling program and, in short fashion, molded it into one of the best in NCAA Division II.

Since his arrival at The University of South Dakota in 1988, Boots has recorded the most wins ever by a head men's basketball coach, posting a 360-139 record (.721).

Named USD's 15th head coach in April 1988, Boots has been selected North Central Conference Coach of the Year five times and named Kodak District Coach of the Year three times.

One of the most respected coaches in the NCC and NCAA Division II, he has been a collegiate head coach for 24 years, posting a record of 475-202 (.702).

Boots, who also serves as assistant athletic director at USD, has led South Dakota to five NCC championships (1992-93, 1993-94, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01), two North Central Region crowns (1992-93, 1993-94) and and two appearences in the NCAA Division II Elite 8 National Tournament (1992-93, 1993-94).

The Coyotes, who consistently have been ranked among the Top-25 in Division II, have never had a losing season under Boots. Over the last 18 years, South Dakota has averaged 21 wins per year. The 2004-05 team was his 11th USD squad with 20 or more wins.