Box Score

DENVER—South Dakota used a 22-2 run in the second half to flip the script on Denver and held on late for a 74-69 victory Sunday at Magness Arena. Both teams are 1-1 in the Summit League standings.

South Dakota (7-9) trailed 44-33 with 16 minutes to go, but scored 22 of the game's next 24 points to take a 55-46 advantage less than six minutes later. Tyler Larson and Casey Kasperbauer scored 10 points each during the rally. Larson led South Dakota with 22 points. Kasperbauer made 4 of 5 three-pointers and finished with 15 points – all in the second half.

Kasperbauer's fourth triple gave USD a 67-55 lead with 3:35 to go. Denver closed within a point following two free throws from Brett Olson with five seconds left. Larson answered with two free throws with 4.2 seconds left to make it 72-69. The Pioneers threw away the ensuing inbounds pass and D.J. Davis' bucket at the buzzer sealed the win.

Olson led all scorers with 24 points. He had 12 in the first half and scored seven in the final 90 seconds to make it close at the end. Jalen Love and Marcus Byrd added 13 points for the Pioneers (7-8), who are picked to finish second in the Summit League's preseason poll.

Coyote big man James Hunter helped USD jump out to a 10-2 lead and scored eight of his 12 points in the first half. South Dakota shot 41 percent from the field (23 of 55), made 7 of 13 treys and 21 of 27 free throws.

Denver shot 53 percent from the field (23 of 43), but had nine second-half buckets. The Pioneers were held to three offensive rebounds all game and were outscored on second-chance points 18-2.

Kasperbauer picked up three fouls early and played four minutes of the first half. His first shot of the game was a three-pointer with 13:33 to go that brought South Dakota within three, 46-43. Larson stole a pass and scored and Kasperbauer hit his second trey to give USD the lead for good, 48-46, at the 12:21 mark.

Larson hit a 3 and Denver coach Joe Scott picked up a technical foul at the 11-minute mark. Kasperbauer made 1 of 2 technicals and buried another three-pointer on the possession that followed to make it 55-46. The Yotes' largest lead was 61-48 with eight minutes to go.

South Dakota missed three free throws in the final 37 seconds to give Denver hope. The Pioneers had the ball trailing by three points with 14 seconds left, and the Coyotes intentionally fouled Olson with five seconds left.

South Dakota has won four of its last five overall. The Coyotes next take on Fort Wayne Saturday at 6 p.m. (CST) in Fort Wayne, Ind. Fort Wayne (7-7, 0-1 Summit heading into tonight's home game against IUPUI) is the preseason favorite to win the Summit League.