Feb. 22, 2014

Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D.—Karim Rowson scored a team-high 11 points and Tyler Larson added 10 as South Dakota drew even in the Summit League standings with a 64-54 win against Western Illinois on Senior Day Saturday at the DakotaDome.

The Coyotes (12-15, 6-6 Summit) have won three in a row and will be seeded no lower than fifth at the Summit League Tournament. South Dakota also ended a six-game losing streak to Western Illinois (9-18, 3-9), which has now lost six straight.

That's pretty neat considering we were picked to finish seventh, said USD interim head coach Joey James about the tournament seeding. I think it shows we are making progress.

The Coyotes led 30-24 at halftime and never relinquished the lead despite Western pulling within one at 47-46 with less than six minutes to go. Larson hit an off-balance runner to cap a fast break, and buried a 3-pointer on the next possession to make it 52-46.

Western center Michael Ochereobia scored in the lane to make it 52-48 with three minutes left. Ochereobia had five field goals and 10 points.

On the ensuing possession, USD senior Trevor Gruis worked out of a double team and hit Rowson on the right block. Rowson was surrounded by three defenders, but put it up and in to make it 54-48. Next time down, it was Gruis who pivoted around Ochereobia and scored from the right block to make it 56-48 with less than two to play.

Big time play, said James of Rowson's score. That was a huge momentum swinger for us. And then (Trevor) comes back, they thought he was going to pass, but Trevor makes a heck of a move to finish at the rim. I thought at that point, that was close to being your ballgame.

It was a sweet ending for two seniors playing their final game at the Dome. Gruis and Rowson, along with fellow senior Steve Tecker, were honored in a pregame ceremony. Both left the court to standing ovations down the stretch.

It was my last time playing here and I wanted to go out with a bang, said Rowson, who hails from New York. This is the first time my parents have been to South Dakota and it was great. It felt like I was back home.

Gruis fouled out with 1:11 to go and with USD holding a 60-51 lead. He had six points, three rebounds and four assists.

The Coyotes were 17 of 18 from the free-throw line while their counterparts were 7 of 15. USD was 7 of 18 from beyond the arc and Western was 3 of 17. All three triples for the Leathernecks were by Garret Covington who made 6 of 15 shots and scored a game-high 19 points.

South Dakota concludes the regular season next week with road trips to North Dakota State (Thursday) and South Dakota State (Saturday).