GAME 12: SACRAMENTO STATE (2-6) at SOUTH DAKOTA (7-4)
When	Saturday, Dec. 10, 1 p.m. CT
Where	Sanford Coyote Sports Center (6,000) | Vermillion, S.D.
Watch Online	FREE webcast
Radio	Coyote Sports Network (Joe Van Goor)
Live Stats	Live Stats
USD Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Stats
CSUS Links	Game Notes | Roster | Schedule | Stats
Social Media	Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The Game
It will be South Dakota's final non-conference home game of the season when the Coyotes welcome Sacramento State Saturday afternoon. USD is 5-0 in its new facility where the Coyotes are shooting 44 percent from the field and averaging 80 points. Following this game, South Dakota will swing out west for three games in six days from Dec. 16-21 before returning to campus to host Omaha on Dec. 29 to begin Summit League play.
 
Saturday's game is a rematch of a high-scoring affair in Sacramento last season. Coyote forward Dan Jech, then a freshman, came off Craig Smith's bench to score 22 points in leading USD to a 96-90 win against the Hornets. Jech made his first eight shots and finished 9 of 10 from the field including 4 for 4 from downtown. The Coyotes made 12 of 19 3-pointers during the contest. Tyler Hagedorn is the only other current Coyote who competed in last year's meeting.
 
The Hornets
Sacramento State has four starters back from last year's 14-17 squad, but is still seeking its first Division I win of the season (the team's two wins are against NAIA competition). Those four starters, led by junior guard Justin Strings, combine for 70 percent of the Hornets' offense this season. Strings is on the same pace he set a year ago at 15 points per game. Sacramento State averages just 10 turnovers per game, which ranks 12^th fewest nationally.
 
Three-point shooting has been the Achilles heel for Sacramento State. Not only are the Hornets shooting 28 percent from long range (39-138), the opposition is shooting 44 percent (66-150). Of the 347 Division I teams, that 3-point percentage defense of 44 percent is the worst mark in the nation. Last year, opponents shot just 31 percent against the Hornets.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota got a big lift from freshman Tyler Peterson in Wednesday's win against Montana State. His team-high 15 points were part of 27 bench points for the Coyotes, most in six games. Peterson was 3 of 27 from downtown heading into the game, but buried 3 of 4 and made 4 of 5 overall from the field and was 4 for 4 from the free-throw line. The Coyotes turned in perhaps their best defensive performance on the season in holding Montana State to 4 of 20 from long range and Tyler Hall, one of the nation's top scorers, to more than 27 minutes of game time without a point.
 
Summit vs. Big Sky
Including Wednesday's win, the Coyotes are 2-0 against teams from the Big Sky Conference this season. The Summit League and Big Sky are tied at 4-4 this year with seven more games to be decided. In addition to Saturday's game, South Dakota has a return trip to Montana State scheduled for Dec. 18.
 
The Stat of the Day
We are going out on a limb this week in declaring freshman Brandon Armstrong the nation's leader in assist-to-turnover ratio. You have to be if you haven't committed a turnover 164 minutes into your collegiate career.
 
One Last Thing
Sacramento State has yet to play in a game that was decided by fewer than nine points. Its two NAIA wins were by 22 and 27 points. Its six losses have been by an average of 18 points. On the other hand, South Dakota has played in six games decided by eight points or less and won four.