Coyotes host red hot Golden Eagles Saturday

MBB vs. ORU

VERMILLION, S.D. -- The South Dakota men finish up its home stand against Oral Roberts on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

The Game
The Coyotes are winners of their last 4-of-5 as well as riding a two-game win streak. USD boasts a 9-1 home record.

The Golden Eagles (11-8, 4-2 SL)
Oral Roberts opened up conference play on a two-game skid after losing to South Dakota State 96-79 and Omaha 74-67. The Golden Eagles have since lost in conference play entering on a four-game winning streak.

ORU has four players averaging double-figures in scoring led by Emmanuel Nzekwsi with 16.4 points per contest on 56.2 percent shooting. Max Abmas and Deondre Burns chip in with 14.5 and 14.4 points respectively. Kevin Obanor rounds out the double-figure scoring with 11.4 points a contest.

Abmas is a true freshman from Rockwall, Texas, who has come on strong in the last four games averaging 19.5 points on 57 percent shooting from the field and has connected on 13-of-26 from deep. Burns has equaled Abmas production these last four games. The senior has also averaged 19.5 points while shooting an impressive 63 percent from the field.

The Golden Eagles are averaging 86.5 points during the four-game win streak and have outscored their opponents by 15.5 points compared to averaging 73 points and having a -12 scoring margin in their first two conference games. ORU is shooting 44 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep.

The Coyotes (13-8, 4-3 SL)
South Dakota enters on a two-game win streak after beating its in-state rival South Dakota State and Purdue Fort Wayne this past week. The Yotes are also winners of their last 4-of-5 and are undefeated in conference play at home.

Tyler Hagedorn is the team's leading scorer with 18.5 points per contest which ranks first in the Summit. Stanley Umude averages 16.9 points which rank fifth in the Summit as well. Cody Kelley (11.2), Triston Simpson (11.1) and Tyler Peterson (11.0) round out the starting five that all average in double figures for the Coyotes. USD is the only League team that have all five starters averaging double-figures in points.

As a team, USD averages 77.2 points per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from deep.

The Series
The Golden Eagles hold an 8-6 record all-time against the Coyotes while also holding an 4-3 record in games played in Vermillion. Oral Roberts has won the past two matchups while USD has won three of the last five.

One Last Thing
The Coyotes rank in the top-25 in the nation in two different categories as well as ranking third in the nation in 3-point percentage. USD ranks 11th in the nation in field-goal percentage at 48.6 percent while coming in at No. 24 in the nation in its assist-to-turnover ratio. The Yotes have a 1.30 ratio and rank first in the Summit League as well.

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