BROOKINGS — Fresh off another Summit League championship and NCAA tournament appearance, South Dakota State’s men’s basketball team will begin a new era in First Bank and Trust Arena in 2024-25, and the schedule for that first year in the new place has been released.

The Jacks will have something of a ‘soft open’ for the First Bank and Trust on Oct. 30, a Wednesday, when they host Black Hills State, and after playing McNeese State in Sioux Falls at the Sanford Pentagon, they officially christen their new arena when the Jacks host Long Beach State on Nov. 8 (a Friday).

They complete their tour of South Dakota facilities on Nov. 14 when they take on Northern Colorado in Rapid City.

Notable home non-conference games include Southern Miss on Nov. 20 and Eastern Washington on Dec. 7.

The Jacks play two power conference foes on the road, visiting Colorado on Dec. 13 and Alabama on Dec. 29, the latter of which is their final game before Summit League play.

Here’s the complete schedule:

Oct. 30 vs Black Hills State (exhibition)
Nov. 4/ vs McNeese State, Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls
Nov. 8 vs Long Beach State
Nov. 14 vs Northern Colorado, Summit Arena, Rapid City
Nov. 18 vs Mount Marty
Nov. 20 vs Southern Miss
Nov. 24 vs Duquesne – Cayman Islands Classic
Nov. 25 vs Boise State or Hampton – Cayman Islands Classic
Nov. 26 vs TBD Cayman Islands Classic
Dec. 2 vs Dakota Wesleyan
Dec. 4 at Montana
Dec. 7 vs Eastern Washington
Dec. 11 at Nevada
Dec. 13 at Colorado
Dec. 19 vs Chadron State
Dec. 29 at Alabama
Jan. 2 vs Denver
Jan. 8 at St. Thomas
Jan. 11 at Omaha
Jan. 16 vs North Dakota
Jan. 18 vs Oral Roberts
Jan. 23 at Kansas City
Jan. 25 vs South Dakota
Jan. 30 at North Dakota State
Feb. 1 at North Dakota
Feb. 6 vs St. Thomas
Feb. 13 vs Omaha
Feb. 15 at South Dakota
Feb. 19 vs North Dakota State
Feb. 22 vs Kansas City
Feb. 27 at Oral Roberts
March 1 at Denver
Summit League tournament: March 5-9

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – We’re only months away from the general election and there’s a chance recreational marijuana could get legalized here in South Dakota.

On November 5, South Dakota voters will have the opportunity to vote on Initiated Measure 29 which would legalize the possession, distribution, and use of recreational marijuana for people ages 21 and older.

This wouldn’t be the first time legalization has been on the South Dakota ballot.

In 2020, the legalization of marijuana was originally approved by state voters through Constitutional Amendment A, but that was overturned in court on a constitutional challenge.

In 2022, voters voted no against the passing of marijuana legalization.

A supporter for the legalization of recreational marijuana is confident it will finally be passed in November.

“29,000 people signed the ballot. People are really wanting to push this home. The state might have some fatigue on the issue in [and] of itself, but with so many other issues on the ballot and turnout expected to be so high, I think it will be pretty clear where the state lies in November,” Member of the “Yes on 29″ Ballot Committee Brad Jurgensen said.

Not everyone in the state is for the measure being passed, with one opponent believing the legalization of marijuana would be problematic.

”The number one predictor of increased jail and incarceration is substance abuse and drug abuse. And there’s no question at all that marijuana, the research is very clear, is a gateway drug, and it leads to harder and more serious drugs for our kids,” Chairperson for “Protecting South Dakota Kids” Jim Kimyon said.

Whether people are for or against legalizing marijuana, a decision on the future of cannabis in South Dakota will be made in November.

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WEST FARGO — Next fall, Northern Cass and West Fargo Legion baseball standout Trey Husar will be heading to Brookings, South Dakota.

Husar announced his commitment to Division I South Dakota State on social media on Saturday. He said a friendly coaching staff made him feel welcome from the beginning.

“I always felt like I was respected and appreciated,” Husar said. “And overall, Brookings had a good vibe and felt like a good city that I could spend the next four years of my career in.”

Academics played a key role for Husar in the decision. He plans on majoring in engineering while at SDSU. Husar also noted that Brookings made him feel like he was at home.

“I like the small-town vibe,” Husar said. “Everyone supports everyone. The sports programs support each other. It kind of reminds me of Northern Cass or the Class B setting.”

Husar is projected to join the Jackrabbits program as a pitcher.

West Fargo Patriots head coach Jordan Rheault said Husar’s competitive nature will be a positive addition at SDSU.

“He’s super athletic,” Rheault said. “His fastball has got some velocity, especially from the left-handed side. … Most importantly, he’s a great kid and a great individual to have in the dugout.”

The Jackrabbits told Husar they’d like him to continue building muscle and putting on weight throughout the year.

Husar paced the Jaguars last season with a .489 batting average in 47 at-bats with 22 RBIs. He held a .915 slugging percentage with seven doubles, two triples and three home runs.

On the mound, Husar finished with a 6-1 record and a 0.89 earned-run average. Husar threw a no-hitter against Enderlin and mustered 15 strikeouts in the performance.

Husar, who was Class B First Team All-State selection, admitted that he didn’t settle in with the Patriots as quickly as would have liked.

“It took me a while to find my role in West Fargo,” Husar said. “I felt like I found it towards the end of the year. I’m looking to build on that this upcoming summer.”

Husar rounded out the second half of the Patriots season with a .334 batting average and 22 RBIs. He went 3-for-6 with two doubles during the American Legion Central Plains Regional tournament at Young Field.

Baseball isn’t Husar’s only specialty.

Husar was a member of the Jaguars’ 4×200 relay team that won the Class B state championship and set a school record at 3 minutes, 35.90 seconds. He was also a runner-up at the state meet in the triple jump.

While baseball is his primary focus, Husar noted solid communication between his track and baseball coaches have been key in his busy spring schedule.

A state title in track did not compare to his championship in Legion baseball.

“It was nice to represent our school, but winning that state championship with West Fargo this summer felt unreal,” Husar said. “We faced adversity in the beginning of the year, fought our way through, got really hot in July and kept rolling. It felt great.”

Husar said he’s looking to make a run at a state tournament berth along with his fellow seniors in the final year.

“We have seven or eight seniors,” Husar said. “It’s kind of our last hurrah.”

After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com