The Game
Two teams riding three-game win streaks and expected to vie for their respective conference titles meet inside the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls Friday as we near the end of non-conference play. It's a rematch at the same site where Northern Colorado edged South Dakota 63-62 two years ago. It is also alumni night, and any USD alums in the Sioux Falls area can get two tickets for the price of one.
The Pregame
Join us at Blue Rock Bar & Grill located at 4021 Bobhalla Drive near the Sanford Pentagon starting at 5 p.m. for pregame festivities. South Dakota head coach
Todd Lee will address the gathering at 6 p.m. before migrating to the Pentagon.
The Series
These former North Central Conference foes met for 25 straight seasons from 1978-2003. This is the second consecutive neutral site matchup and third overall. South Dakota leads the all-time series 30-20 and has won 20 of 24 dating back to the 1994-95 season.
The Coyotes
South Dakota is led by the two-leading scorers in the Summit League in senior
Tyler Hagedorn and junior preseason player of the year
Stanley Umude. Both average 17 points per game. Hagedorn leads the nation in 3-point shooting at 59 percent (23-for-39). Umude has averaged a double-double – 19 points and 10 rebounds – over his last five games.
USD has been without starting point guard
Triston Simpson for the last five games. True freshman
Kruz Perrott-Hunt has averaged 19 minutes and handed out 13 assists against two turnovers in his place.
The Bears
Northern Colorado has won three straight and four of five following Wednesday's 86-64 thrashing of Denver at home. Senior guard Jonah Radebaugh scored 26 points against the Pioneers and stands 24 shy of 1,000 career points. Bodie Hume is the reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year and leads the Bears with 16 points per game.
UNC was picked to finish in the top five of the 11-member Big Sky in both the media and coaches preseason polls. The Bears placed second in the league a year ago with a 15-5 mark and finished 21-11 overall.
One Last Thing
South Dakota is 3-3 all-time inside the Sanford Pentagon. Two of those six contests required overtime.
