JACKS DOWN HAWKS TO CLAIM REGULAR SEASON TITLE

Thursday, February 29

Grand Forks, N.D.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

North Dakota

Zeke Mayo

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

2/29/2024 10:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – South Dakota State captured its ninth Summit League regular season championship on Thursday as the Jackrabbits defeated North Dakota, 72-62, at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

The Jacks trailed for a majority of the first half and fell down 33-23 with 3 minutes, 37 seconds to go. SDSU cut into the deficit by scoring the half's final seven points, capped on a steal and fastbreak layup by Zeke Mayo that resulted in a three-point play with nine seconds remaining.

North Dakota held on to the lead for the first two minutes of the second half before South Dakota State made a run. Mayo scored five consecutive points, then Charlie Easley drained two straight 3-pointers to propel SDSU on an 11-0 run which put the Jackrabbits up 44-37 with 16 minutes left in the contest.

The Fighting Hawks worked their way back into the lead. UND's Treysen Eaglestaff hit a 3-pointer at the 11:06 mark to put the home side back in front 53-50.

South Dakota State's next scoring run resulted in the last lead change of the night.

Kalen Garry hit a 3-pointer, Mayo hit a trey, then Garry connected on another field goal from deep to push the Jackrabbits ahead 59-53 behind a 9-0 scoring run. The Fighting Hawks' Tsotne Tsartsidze made a 3-pointer with 5:25 remaining to cut the deficit down to one possession at 61-58. After back-to-back defensive stops by both sides, Mayo made his fifth 3-pointer of the contest to put the Jackrabbits up by six.

South Dakota State improved to 18-12 overall with the win and 11-4 in Summit League play. The Jackrabbits sealed the No. 1 seed at The Summit League Basketball Championship tournament in Sioux Falls thanks to claiming the regular season title. SDSU will open its conference tournament on Saturday, March 9, at 6 p.m. versus the winner of the No. 8/9 seeded game.

Notes

Zeke Mayo paced South Dakota State in scoring with his 26 points. He was 10-for-18 from the floor and 5 of 10 from 3-point range. He had a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Joining him in double digits scoring were Charlie Easley (13) and Luke Appel (12). Easley went 5 of 10 from the field and Appel was 5 of 9. William Kyle III had six rebounds and four blocks.
SDSU outshot UND 50.9%-41.7% from the field. The Jackrabbits were 12-for-26 (46.2%) from 3-point range and out-rebounded the Fighting Hawks 33-30.
North Dakota had a trio of double-digit scorers in B.J. Omot (14), Tyree Ihenacho (14) and Eaglestaff (12).