Jacks battle, but fall in NCAA Tournament

Thursday, March 16

Salt Lake City, Utah

Noon MT / 1 p.m. CT

South Dakota State University

18-17

#1 Seed Gonzaga

33-1

South Dakota State

Gonzaga

Photo by: Jason Salzman

3/16/2017 3:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score SDSU Press Conference Transcript

SALT LAKE CITY -- No. 16 seed South Dakota State went toe-to-toe with the West Region's No. 1 seed, but came up short in a 66-46 loss to Gonzaga in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

SDSU finished the year 18-17 overall after reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season,

Mike Daum led all scorers with 17 points, adding seven points for the Jackrabbit team that shot 31 percent from the night. Chris Howell added eight points while Tevin King snagged nine boards.

Jordan Matthews scored 17 to lead the Bulldogs while Johnathan Williams pulled down 14 rebounds as Gonzaga finished the game 39.7 percent from the field.

Neither team lit up the nets, as a defensive battle saw just 48 total points scored in the opening 20 minutes and 112 points overall.

SDSU built an 8-2 lead through the opening 3:09, but saw Gonzaga climb back to draw even, 12-all, before the under-12 break. From there, the teams traded baskets, but the Jacks did not relinquish the lead until late in the half when a Zach Collins layup put the Bulldogs ahead 23-22 with 1:40 on the clock. GU hit three more free throws in the final 90 seconds and South Dakota State trailed, 26-22, at the break.

Though State scored the first points of the second, it was the Bulldogs that fired out of the gates, stretching their lead to nine (35-26) to force a Jackrabbit timeout at 17:20.

GU opened up a double-digit lead moments later, but a 3-pointer from Lane Severyn at 15:33 pulled SDSU to within nine (40-31). The Jacks held the Bulldogs scoreless for the next two minutes, but were only able to climb within seven (40-33) before the Zags responded with a burst of eight straight to go up 15 near the 10-minute mark.

Down the stretch, SDSU saw its Cinderella hopes disappear as Gonzaga heated up from the field and advanced to the round of 32.

Game Notes

Mike Daum moved into 12th on SDSU's all-time scoring list with 1,396 points. He passed Chris White (1,380), Jason Sempsrott (1,390) and Bob WInzenburg (1,395).
Reed Tellinghuisen moved into 42nd in scoring at South Dakota State with 1,017 points. He passed Jim Walker (1,012).
The Jackrabbits have reached the NCAA Tournament four times in the last six years.
Graduate transfers Michael Orris and A.J. Hess closed out their careers after wearing the Jackrabbit uniform for one season.
State held Gonzaga to its second lowest scoring total and field goal percentage of the season.

-GoJacks.com-