Promotions
- South Dakota coaches are participating in the 4th Annual Coaches Powering Forward for Autism benefiting Autism Speaks, Feb. 3-5. The Coyotes' staff will wear the Autism Speaks pins to raise awareness for the autism community while helping to increase understanding and acceptance.
The Game
First-place North Dakota State leads second-place South Dakota by a game-and-a-half entering play this weekend when the Bison host the Coyotes at the new Scheels Center. The Bison are 8-1 on their new court with the lone blemish to rival North Dakota in the early part of the season. The Coyotes haven't won in Fargo since 2002. A last-second shot from point blank range rimmed around and out a year ago to extend the streak to eight games.
Saturday's game is a rematch from two-and-a-half weeks ago when NDSU handed the Coyotes their first and only loss inside USD's new facility, the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Dexter Werner made two free throws with 5.3 seconds left and USD missed a long 3 at the buzzer to give the Bison a 70-69 win. The Coyotes missed two free throws with 28 seconds left prior to Werner's winning points and missed 11 free throws in the one-point loss.
The Bison
NDSU maintained its lead in the standings despite having a three-game win streak end Wednesday in an 86-81 overtime loss at IUPUI. The loss came despite a season-high 22 points off the bench from freshman Tyson Ward. The Bison continue to be led by preseason all-Summit picks Werner and Paul Miller. Werner comes off the bench to average 11 points and seven boards. Miller is the 10th-leading scorer in the Summit at nearly 16 points per game. He had 26, including a career-high six 3's, in the win at South Dakota. Miller is averaging 20 points in conference play.
The Coyotes
South Dakota and Oral Roberts are the only Summit teams with just two home games remaining on the schedule. As head coach
Craig Smith has said, the team has "held serve" so far, with the team losing just once in Summit play at home and stealing a road win at Denver early in the season. Senior center
Tyler Flack has totaled 40 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in two games back from an extended injury. Sophomore guard
Matt Mooney, a strong candidate for Summit League Transfer of the Year, is averaging 21 points in conference play, second-best in the league. He has been the game's leading scorer in each of South Dakota's last five contests.
Final Notes
South Dakota lost in Omaha Wednesday despite scoring 83 points and shooting 52 percent from the field. It was just the second time in three seasons under Smith that the Coyotes have lost when shooting better than 50 percent ... Only three teams nationally have attempted more free throws than the Coyotes (625). USD had attempted at least 30 free throws in seven consecutive games before taking 26 foul shots against Omaha last time out.
