The Game
South Dakota and Kent State meet Monday at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla. It's the first meeting between the two programs, who are both unbeaten in the young season. The game is part of an eight-team tournament to be played in three days at Germain Arena. The winner will take on either Houston or George Mason at 6:30 p.m. CT Tuesday while the loser plays an earlier game at 1:30 p.m. Vermont, Wofford, Hofstra and Bradley are on the other half of the bracket.
About Kent State
The Golden Flashes are the second MAC team South Dakota is facing this season. The Coyotes beat Bowling Green 78-72 in USD's home opener. Kent State finished 19-13 a season ago and was 10-8 in the MAC. The team is picked to finish fourth out of six in the MAC East Division.
Senior forward Jimmy Hall is a two-time all-MAC honoree who averaged 16.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season. He's averaged 21 points and 12 boards in three wins this season. Like USD, Kent State has five players who have double figure scoring averages.
Fast Start
South Dakota is 4-0 for the first time since 2007 when the Coyotes started 14-0. That occurred during the final season of USD's Division II era. USD has shot 46 percent and averaged 84 points per game thru four contests. It's enjoyed a plus-12 rebounding margin and blocked 26 shots, one of the highest tallies in the nation.
The Coyotes have received contributions from just about everyone on their roster. In addition to the five starters all averaging at least 10 points, the team's three true freshmen -
Triston Simpson,
Brandon Armstrong and
Tyler Peterson - along with sophomore
Dan Jech are all averaging at least five points per game off the bench.
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