KANSAS CITY, Mo. — South Dakota basketball dropped a 68-54 decision to Kansas City Thursday night in its Summit League opener.
 
Chase Forte was the lone Coyote in double-figure scoring on the night with 12. Forte took advantage of his trips to the free throw line, connecting on 8-of-11 attempts, while also dishing out four assists. Paul Bruns added eight points and five boards, while Kaleb Stewart and Ashton Smith had seven points each.
 
USD was held to a .298 shooting percentage by the Roos who shot .411 percent on the night. KC also held a 45-25 advantage in the rebounding battle.
 
The lead changed hands three times, and the score was tied five times in a defensive first half that saw the Roos hold a 31-26 at the intermission. The Yotes shot .385 percent from the field while KC shot .351. Isaac Bruns tied for a team-high six points in the first half off the bench and led the Yotes with six rebounds. An early triple from Stewart started a 7-2 run that gave USD a 9-7 lead seven minutes into the game. KC regained the lead on the shortly after, and other than the score tying three times, would stay in front the rest of the contest.
 
While the Yotes connected on 20-of-25 attempts from the free throw line in the second half, they went just 4-for-21 from the field in the final 20 minutes. The Roos went 10-for-19 from the field and 15-of-22 from the charity stripe. Forte scored 10 points in the second half, but KC's Cameron Faas and Jamar Brown answered with 12 and 11 points, respectively in the final 20.
 
South Dakota returns to the Sanford Coyote Sports Center Saturday at 7:00 p.m. to take on Denver.
 
Notes

• South Dakota moves to 9-7 on the season and 1-7 on the road
• It was the first time this season the Yotes were held to under 75 points
• KC's 68 points was the fewest the Yotes have allowed against a NCAA Division I opponent
• Chase Forte scored in double-figures for the 12^th time
• It was the eighth game with 20+ made free throws for USD