For the first time since the 2008-09 season, the South Dakota men's basketball team hosts Mount Marty Monday night at 7 p.m. inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
Promotions
The Coyotes are looking for you to step up to help make a Vermillion family's Thanksgiving a little better.  We'll be accepting donations of non-perishable Thanksgiving food items (boxed potatoes, stuffing, etc) to donate to the Vermillion Food Pantry in advance of Thanksgiving. Any fan that makes a donation will get $5 tickets!
 
The Game
Mount Marty holds a 1-6 record on the season but has lost four games by just five points or less. The Coyotes have started the season 3-1 and have won seven-straight games inside Sanford Coyote Sports Center dating back to last season.  
 
The Lancers
Marcus Mathieu leads the team with 22.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He is joined in double-digit scoring by Drew Cheskie with 11.5 points and Conlan Callahan at 10.8 points per game. Mount Marty last played Saturday night, falling to Hastings College 70-65. In that game Mathieu tallied a game-high 22 points with Cheskie adding 16.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota continues to be led by Matt Mooney, who averages 18.8 points per game, but has received a boost from Tyler Hagedorn. The junior scored at a rate of 15.8 points per game and has been in double digits all four games this year. Triston Simpson has given South Dakota solid offense with his 7.5 points and 4.5 assists per game, while grabbing 4.5 rebounds per contest.  
 
The Series
The Coyotes and Lancers have met eight times over the years with South Dakota winning all eight contests. The last meeting was in the 2008-09 season, when South Dakota prevailed 91-70. In the game, Tyler Cain scored a game-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
 
One Last Thing
Monday's contest is the home-site game of the Sanford Pentagon Showcase. South Dakota takes the short drive to Sioux Falls Friday through Sunday for the Division I portion of the round-robin tournament, facing Southern Miss, Northern Colorado and Youngstown State. Tickets are available for the three games via Ticketmaster.