Nov. 23, 2012

Final Stats

VERMILLION, S.D.--Juevol Myles' game-high 24 points led four South Dakota players who scored in double figures as the Coyotes defeated Culver-Stockton, 81-73, Friday night in USD's home opener at the DakotaDome.

Marshawn Norris scored a season-high 23 points for the Wildcats (4-2), which entered the game with a three-game winning streak. Mario Gulley and Austin Keaton had 13 and 12 points, respectively.

South Dakota center Trevor Gruis had 16 points and 10 rebounds in notching his first double-double of the season and ninth of his career. Karim Rowson finished one rebound shy of a double-double and had 13 points. Steve Tecker had 11 points and five rebounds.

South Dakota (2-3) led 42-37 at halftime and enjoyed its largest lead at 71-54 with less than nine minutes to play. One of Norris' five triples capped a 9-0 run that brought the lead back to single digits with 5:30 remaining. The Wildcats got as close as six points, 74-68, two minutes later, but would draw no closer.

Culver-Stockton, an NAIA program from Canton, Mo., kept close by forcing South Dakota into 22 turnovers and getting 14 second-chance points off 15 offensive rebounds. Gulley had three of the Wildcats' 10 steals.

Myles scored 12 points in each half. He was 8-of-13 from the field and 5-of-6 from behind the arc in 37 minutes of work. Norris was 5-of-16 from 3-point range while the rest of the Wildcats combined to go 3-of-16. Norris shot 9-of-24 overall.

South Dakota returns to its home court Saturday with a 7 p.m. contest against Waldorf.