BROOKINGS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – South Dakota State controlled its matchup against South Dakota from the opening possession as the Jackrabbits earned a 90-71 victory over the Coyotes on Saturday, Jan. 25, in First Bank & Trust Arena. The Interstate Series game, presented by First Interstate Bank, was played in front of a facility-record 4,764 spectators.

SDSU’s Owen Larson connected on a 3-pointer less than 30 seconds into the clash. A Kalen Garry layup and another Larson trey put the Jackrabbits ahead 8-0 with just over two minutes off the clock. South Dakota cut the margin to 10-5 at the 16:50 mark of the first half, but a Garry 3-pointer on the Jackrabbits’ ensuing possession thwarted any opportunity for the Yotes.

A Matthew Mors 3-pointer pushed the SDSU advantage to 19-7 with 14:38 remaining in the first half. The Jackrabbit lead wouldn’t dip into single digits again.

An Isaac Lindsey 3-pointer pushed SDSU ahead to 37-15, the Jackrabbits’ largest advantage of the first half, with 6:27 to play in the opening 20 minutes. South Dakota State eventually went into halftime up 49-32.

USD continued its attempt to rally back. A pair of Quandre Bullock free throws cut the Coyote deficit to 12, 57-45, with 14:23 to go. The Jackrabbits halted any comeback at that point, pushing the edge back to 20-plus points just under the nine-minute mark.

Garry drained a 3-pointer to give SDSU its largest lead of the game of 25 points with 3:12 remaining. South Dakota State emptied its bench for the rest of the contest as the Jacks went on to complete a 19-point victory over the Coyotes.

South Dakota State improved to 14-8 overall and 5-2 in conference play. South Dakota dropped to 12-10 (3-4).

The Jackrabbits had five double-digit scorers in the contest. Garry led all scorers with 19 points while he grabbed a career-best nine boards. Larson and Stoney Hadnot scored career highs of 18 and 14, respectively. Oscar Cluff finished off his 14th double-double of the season with 11 points and 14 rebounds, to go along with a career-high seven assists. Mors registered 10 points.

South Dakota, the nation’s fifth-highest-scoring offense averaging over 86 points per game, was held to 71. The Yotes had three players score 11 points and two record 10 apiece. Mayuom Byom had a team-high seven rebounds.

NOTES:

• South Dakota State made five of its first six three 3-pointers. The Jacks were eventually 12 of 31 (38.7%) from 3-point range while they held the Yotes to a 4-for-24 clip (16.7%). SDSU also outshot USD 48-38% from the field. 
• The Jackrabbits had a 49-31 rebounding edge as well as a 15-6 difference in assists.
• South Dakota State has now won 18 of 20 in Brookings against South Dakota during the 21st century. The Jackrabbits have won nine consecutive games in the Interstate Series. That span is tied for the longest between the two programs since a nine-game win streak for SDSU during a stretch between the years 1920-23.
• The 4,764 fans are the most for an event ever in First Bank & Trust Arena. In the midst of its inaugural year of events, the previously facility high was 4,582 when the South Dakota State women’s basketball team hosted Duke earlier this season.

UP NEXT: The Jackrabbits go on the road for two consecutive games. SDSU opens up a road trip north on I-29 by taking on North Dakota State in Fargo on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m.

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