VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota basketball ended the game in a flurry with an 11-0 run over the final four minutes to grab an 83-78 win over Western Michigan Sunday in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. 
 
The freshman Uzziah Buntyn shined in today's game, and particularly in the second half, as his career high of 19 points was a team best on 7-of-10 shooting and 5-of-7 from deep. Buntyn was the spark for the Yotes in the second half, pouring in 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting with four 3-pointers. 
 
The Coyote defense locked down the Mustangs over the final four minutes of the game, holding the Broncos scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting and forced three turnovers. Buntyn started the 11-0 run at the end of the contest with a pull up jumper and would later knock down his fifth triple of the game to give USD a 79-78 lead with 1:25 remaining. The Yotes forced turnovers on back-to-back Mustang possessions near the one-minute mark of the second half, while Isaac Bruns knocked down a pair of free throws and Jesse McIntosh iced the game with a layup with four seconds remaining. 
 
While the Mustangs shot .552 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, compared to USD's .421 percent, the Coyotes gained extra possessions by forcing seven turnovers while only committing one, and had five offensive rebounds. The Yotes knocked down seven 3-pointers in the first half, while three coming from Ethan Kizer and two from Bruns. The duo paced the Yotes in scoring in the first half with nine each. 
 
Bruns stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Shey Eberwein, Cameron Fens and Kizer all had 11 points. Fens grabbed a team high seven rebounds and had two blocks, while Eberwewin dished out three assists. 
 
Led by Buntyn's five, four Coyotes knocked down multiple 3-pointers and the Yotes connected on a season-high 13 from beyond the arc. For the third game in a row, USD had 30+ points scored by its bench unit. 
 
The Coyotes will hit the road to Columbia, Missouri for their next game against Missouri on Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
Notes

• South Dakota moves to 3-2 on the season, 3-1 at home and have won three straight
• Uzziah Buntyn set a career high with 19 points and five made 3-pointers
• Buntyn scored 14 of his points in the second half on 5-of-6 shooting with four triples
• Five Coyotes scored in double-figures
• The 13 made 3-pointers was the most so far this season by the Yotes
• USD ended the game on an 11-0 run over the last 4:17 and held WMU to 0-of-7 shooting with three turnovers
• Ethan Kizer connected on a season high three 3-pointers, matching his career high 
• Isaac Bruns has scored in double-figures in all five games to start the season
• Cameron Fens scored in double-figures for the second straight game and had now blocked 2+ shots in three games