SACRAMENTO, Calif.—South Dakota point guard Shy McClelland scored a game-high 18 points including back-to-back layups in the final two minutes to lead the Coyotes to a 77-71 win against defending Big Sky Champion Eastern Washington Saturday at The Nest on the campus of Sacramento State.
 
It was the third win in six days for the Coyotes (4-3), which beat Sacramento State of the Big Sky Saturday. Eastern Washington, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, dropped to 3-3.
 
South Dakota erased a nine-point, second-half deficit and made its last seven shots from the field to pull away down the stretch. A 3-pointer by Casey Kasperbauer broke a 67-67 tie with three minutes left and the Coyotes led the rest of the way. McClelland's layups came on South Dakota's next two possessions and Kasperbauer made two free throws with 13 seconds left for the game's final points.
 
It was the only 3 of the game for Kasperbauer, who had made 20 triples in his first six games. He attempted two against Eastern Washington. The Coyotes made 3 of 7 from beyond the arc less than 24 hours after making 12 of 19 in a win against Sacramento State.
 
The Eagles made nine of their 12 three-pointers in the first half and took a 37-34 lead into halftime. Austin McBroom and Bogdan Bliznyuk hit back-to-back 3's to begin the second half to extend Eastern Washington's lead to 43-36. The Eagles made 1 of 12 from beyond the arc the rest of the way.
 
Cody Benzel made four 3's in eight minutes off Eastern Washington's bench for 12 points. Bliznyuk led the Eagles with 16 points. McBroom added 11.
 
Dan Jech came off South Dakota's bench to score 14 points on 5 of 7 shooting. He also pulled down five rebounds. Eric Robertson was 3 of 3 from the field, 6 of 6 from the free-throw line and had 12 points. Kasperbauer had a team-high six rebounds and three assists to go with seven points.
 
The Coyotes had shot 64 percent from the line before making 18 of 21 against the Eagles. Eastern Washington made 7 of 11 free throws.
 
McClelland scored three buckets during a 17-6 run that helped South Dakota turn its largest deficit, 47-38, into a 55-53 lead with nine minutes left. Jech had a dunk and buried a 3 during the rally. Trey Norris, who had seven points off the bench, capped the run with a steal and score.
 
South Dakota shot 56 percent from the field during its two games in Sacramento and made 15 of 26 three-pointers for 57 percent. Jech averaged 18 points in two games on 14 of 17 shooting. McCllelland averaged 16.5 points and made 15 of 25 shots.
 
The Coyotes return to the court Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip against Minnesota in Minneapolis.