BROOKINGS, S.D. — The University of South Dakota men's basketball team (12-10, 3-4 Summit) dropped the first meeting of the Interstate Series to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (14-8, 5-2 Summit) Saturday evening from First Bank & Trust Arena, 90-71.
 
The Yotes were led by a trio of athletes with 11 points in Chase Forte, Isaac Bruns, and Mayuom Buom. Buom shot 5-for-7 from the floor and snagged a team-high seven rebounds with three being on the offensive end of the floor. Forte led the team with his three steals and grabbed five rebounds with three being offensive himself.
 
South Dakota shot 38.3% (31-for-65) from the floor on the night. USD knocked down four 3-pointers, while shooting 21-for-30 from the free throw line (70.0%). South Dakota State held the edge in paint play, scoring 38 to South Dakota's 30.
 
South Dakota State jumped out to the early first half lead with an 8-0 run out of the gates, hitting their first three 3-point attempts. The hot shooting would prevail in the first half for the Jacks (48.6%) with a 40+ percent mark from deep. At one point, SDSU would push their lead up to 20 points, but the Coyotes would make a push late with their best scoring run of the first half of seven-straight points as the Jacks took a 49-32 lead into the locker room at the break.
 
The second half saw the Yotes make a few runs but the Jackrabbits would keep USD at arms length to take the first meeting of the Interstate Series, presented by First Interstate Bank.
 
NOTES

• South Dakota falls to 12-10 on the season and 3-4 in Summit League play. The Coyotes are now 2-9 in true road games.
• The Yotes had four double digit scorers, the most with 11 points (three athletes).
• Mayuom Buom led the team with his seven rebounds.
• SDSU won the rebounding battle with a +18 margin (49-31).
• South Dakota held the edge in bench points, 35-26.
• SDSU wins their ninth-straight game in the series with the Jacks improving to 138-98 all-time.

UP NEXT: The Coyotes will welcome league-leading Omaha next Wednesday, January 29 for a 7 p.m. tip from the Sanford Coyotes Sport Center (SCSC).