VERMILLION, S.D. — Four Coyotes scored in double-figures as South Dakota basketball closed out its nonconference schedule with an 85-61 win over Mount Marty Sunday in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
Isaac Bruns poured in his eighth 20+ point game of the year with 23 on 7-of-13 shooting to go with six rebounds and four assists. Bruns connected on 3-of-4 attempts from deep and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Jordan Crawford added 17 points and knocked down three 3-pointers for the fourth time this season and had eight rebounds.  
 
Cameron Fens added 12 points, and one was one rebound shy of a double-double, while Uzziah Buntyn had 10 points and dished out seven assists.
 
The Yotes finished the contest with 30-of-58 from the field and their 51.7 shooting percentage was the second highest in a game this season, while holding Mount Marty to 24-of-64 (37.5%) from the floor.
 
The Lancers held their own early in the contest as the lead would change hands on three occasions in the first 10 minutes with Mount Marty holding a five-point edge at the 12-minute mark, 17-12. The Yotes answered with nine straight points, six from Fens, as they pulled ahead 21-17 and would stay out in front for the rest of the contest. Back-to-back triples from Vince Buzelis and Evan Anderson, and a pair of free throws from Bruns, gave USD its largest lead of the first half (11) 39-28 with three minutes to go. Fens corralled his only missed shot of the day and his put back was good with seconds remaining to send South Dakota to the halftime break with a 43-33 advantage.
 
The Yotes shot 15-of-29 (51.7%) in the first half, while holding Mount Marty to 14-of-33 (42.4%), but the Lancers scored 10 off turnovers and 20 points in the paint. Bruns led the way in the first 20 with 12 points and a pair of treys.
 
Bruns and Crawford combined for 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting in the second half as USD shot an identical 15-of-29 from the field. The Coyote defense held the Lancers in check to 28 points on 10-of-31 shooting and 3-of-16 from deep. Mount Marty cut the lead to six with 12:31 remaining, but five quick points from Crawford started a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 15, 64-49, and the Yotes would hold a double-digit lead the rest of the way. A Buzelis bucket, assisted by Buntyn, gave USD its largest lead (24) of the day with a minute remaining and the Yotes would close out the nonconference slate with an 85-61 win.
 
South Dakota is on the road for its first two games of the Summit League season starting on Wednesday when they travel to Fargo to face North Dakota State at 4 p.m.
 
Notes

• South Dakota moves to 8-7 on the season and 7-2 at the SCSC
• Isaac Bruns poured in his seventh 20+ point game over the last eight contests
• Bruns closed in on the 1,000 career point mark and sits with 996 after today's game
• Cameron Fens has scored in double-figures in four straight games and is averaging 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds over that stretch
• Jordan Crawford connected on three 3-pointers for the fourth time this season
• Uzziah Buntyn had seven assists in today's game and has 16 over his last two games
• The Yotes tallied 13 offensive rebounds, the 13^th game this season with 10+
• It was the second straight game with 17+ assists and nine made 3-pointers