WRAP UP: SDSU HOOPS CONTENDS IN SUMMIT AGAIN

BROOKINGS S.D. – South Dakota State's 2022-23 season came to a close with a Summit League Tournament 89-79 semifinal defeat to North Dakota State on March 6 in Sioux Falls. The Jackrabbits campaign ended with SDSU finishing with a 19-13 overall record.

The Jacks dropped to 25-9 all-time in The Summit League conference tournament which includes a 7-5 mark in the semifinals. SDSU 's quarterfinal win against Omaha improved its record to 4-0 versus the Mavs in the league's postseason tourney, while it fell to 4-2 against the Bison.

The season culminating put a book-end on the collegiate careers for a trio of seniors in Alex Arians, Matt Dentlinger and Aaron Fiegen. Arians and Dentlinger were both members of the program for six years and Fiegen was for five. The duo of Arians and Dentlinger ended their careers among the best in several categories in program history and played more games in Yellow and Blue than any other former Jackrabbit.

Arians saved his best basketball of the season for the conference tournament as he set his season high of 18 points in the quarterfinal win, then tied his career best of 20 points in the semifinal loss. The Madison, Wis., native ended his Jackrabbit tenure as SDSU's all-time starts leader with 137. He also finished as SDSU's all-time minutes played leader (4,427), is ninth in assists (326), 11th in 3-point percentage (40.7) and tied for 23rd in points with 1,272.

Dentlinger put together arguably his best season of his college career as a senior and was recognized for his efforts as a Second Team All-Summit League performer. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 32 games played. Dentlinger's conference marks were even better in 18 contests as he averaged 14.9 points and 5.8 rebounds. He finished the league schedule as the conference's field goal percentage overall leader (58.2%). Dentlinger ended his time at SDSU with the program's most appearances in Yellow and Blue at 154. He also finished tied for second in field goal percentage (60.8) and third in career blocks (117) as well as 19th in points (1,300). He also became the team's first three-time Academic All-American and third to earn First Team honors.

SDSU extended its active streak of 13 straight seasons with a First Team All-Summit League performer as Zeke Mayo earned the accolades. Mayo led the Jacks in per game averages in points (18.2), rebounds (6.2) and assists (3.4). The Lawrence, Kan., native had four 30-plus point performances on the season joining a strong list of Jackrabbits that have achieved the feat at the DI level trailing Mike Daum (34), Nate Wolters (13) and David Jenkins Jr. (6). His sophomore slate ended finishing with top 10 single-season marks all-time at SDSU with the fourth best free throw percentage (90.4), sixth in minutes per game (35.7), seventh in 3-pointers (83), eighth in defensive rebounds per game (5.9) and ninth in field goal attempts (465).

William Kyle III had a strong season in his debut year at the college level and was one of two freshmen named to The Summit League All-Newcomer Team. He averaged 8.9 points and 4.8 rebounds and played in all 32 games. He swatted 38 blocks which tied for 10th in program history in a single season.

Matt Mims set career highs in points, rebounds and minutes played for the Jacks in his fourth year in the program. He was an All-Defensive Team performer, just the second all-time for SDSU.

The Jackrabbits continued several high marks among teams at both the conference and national level as a program.

SDSU closed out the 2022-23 Frost Arena slate with a 10-2 record. That home mark has went towards a stellar advantage the Jackrabbits have in their home confines. SDSU's 101-6 record since 2015-16 is tied with Gonzaga (118-7) as the top home winning percentage in Division I men's basketball during the span. Since 2011-12, the Jacks are 151-9 for a .944 winning percentage. That percentage only trails Kansas and Gonzaga, both at .947, for the best in the country. SDSU's home attendance also was the second best among Summit League members. The Jackrabbits' 2,289 average ranked among the top half of Division I men's hoops.

The Jackrabbits ended the regular season with the 10th toughest non-conference based off the NCAA NET Rankings. Among SDSU's non-conference schedule includes top seed in the NCAA Tournament that starts today Alabama, No. 8 seed Arkansas, No. 10 seed Boise State along with No. 13 seed and Mid-American Conference champion Kent State. Eastern Washington, who SDSU defeated in Brookings on Dec. 10 and was the Big Sky Conference regular season champion, recently earned a victory in its NIT opening round game at Washington State.

South Dakota State's men's basketball team has been one of the most successful over the past decade. The Jackrabbits have totaled 226 wins over the past 10 seasons. That total ranks 28th among all Division I men's program during that stretch.

-GoJacks.com-

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Alex Arians

Matt Dentlinger

Aaron Fiegen

William Kyle III

Zeke Mayo

Matt Mims

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus #2 St. Thomas on March 5, 2026 , Loss , 67, to, 80

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at South Dakota on February 28, 2026 , Loss , 70, to, 75

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Kansas City on February 26, 2026 , Win , 73, to, 59

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus North Dakota on February 21, 2026 , Win , 91, to, 83

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus North Dakota State on February 18, 2026 , Loss , 66, to, 74

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Oral Roberts on February 14, 2026 , Win , 87, to, 69

South Dakota State University Athletics