SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota fell to Oral Roberts 77-62 in the opening round of the Summit League Tournament Friday night.
 
South Dakota (12-20) had four score in double-digits and was led by 18 points from Kaleb Stewart. Stewart also dished out a season-high six assists. Lahat Thioune and Bostyn Holt each added 12 points and Paul Bruns was one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
Oral Roberts (12-18) advanced to the quarterfinals behind a game-high 23 points from Issac McBride. McBride shot 60 percent from the field and hit all three of his three-point attempts. Jailen Bedford scored 19 points and Kareem Thompson followed with a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards.
 
The Coyotes came out hot to start the game, going on a quick 7-0 run and forcing an early ORU timeout to regroup. It was the Coyotes' best start of the season. The Golden Eagles responded and held a 14-12 lead at the under-12 media timeout. A cold burst for both teams through the middle of the first half kept it close and the Coyotes trailed by just three heading into halftime off another Paul Bruns halfcourt buzzer beater.
 
Oral Roberts held the lead for a majority of the game, but Stewart knocked down two free throws at just over 12 minutes to play in the second half to tie it up at 42-42. Thioune swatted away an ORU layup that led to a transition layup for Stewart and had the Yotes within five with just over six minutes to play. The Golden Eagles went on a run and took their first double-digit lead at 63-53 with four minutes to play. McBride knocked down a three-pointer to beat the shot clock with 2:21 to play to make it 69-58 and essentially ice the game for the Golden Eagles.
 
South Dakota shot 40 percent from the field and 37 percent from three as a squad. The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Yotes 36-29 and scored 28 paint points opposed to South Dakota's 22 paint points. Oral Roberts forced just nine South Dakota turnovers but scored 14 points off those.