STELLAR OFFENSE LIFTS JACKS OVER HAWKS

Thursday, January 16

Brookings, S.D.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

11-8,2-2Summit League

109

North Dakota

7-13,1-4Summit League

North Dakota

South Dakota St.

109

Joe Sayler

Photo by: Joclyn Haven

1/16/2025 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State put together a season-best opening half offensively and stymied North Dakota State in the second half en route to a 109-72 victory on Thursday in First Bank & Trust Arena.

The Fighting Hawks held the lead for the opening four minutes of the contest before Joe Sayler tied the score at 10 on a 3-pointer at the 15:34 mark. It was a back-and-forth affair over the next five minutes until SDSU took control.

A 9-0 scoring run in less than nine seconds, capped by a Jaden Jackson 3-pointer, made it 35-26 in favor of the Jackrabbits. Another eight-point scoring stretch at the tail of the end of the first half ballooned SDSU's edge to nearly 20 points. The Jacks went into halftime with a 59-44 advantage.

South Dakota State recorded a season-high point total for a half in the first 20 minutes of action. The Jacks' 71.4% clip from the field was their best in a half this season.

The SDSU advantage grew as the Jackrabbits pushed the margin above a 20-point difference for good just over two minutes into the second half. SDSU's biggest lead of the night was by 38 points. The 37-point victory was the Jackrabbits' largest of the season.

South Dakota State produced an impressive night statistically. The 109 points scored were the second most against a Division I opponent during SDSU's Division I era. The Jackrabbits finished 42-for-64 from the field. The 42 field goals made were the third most in SDSU's DI era while the 65.6% mark shooting was the fourth highest ever.

The Jackrabbits improved to 11-8 overall and 2-2 in Summit League play in the win. North Dakota dropped to 7-13 (1-4).

NOTES

South Dakota State was led in the score column by Joe Sayler who recorded a career-high 25 points. All of his points came in the first half as he went 10 of 13 from the floor and 4 of 7 from 3-point range.
Sayler was joined in double digits scoring by Isaac Lindsey (13), Kalen Garry (12), Oscar Cluff (12) and Jackson (11). Lindsey's point total was a career-high mark.
SDSU matched its team-high 20 assists against a Division I opponent this season on Thursday. The Jacks got four assists apiece from Matthew Mors and Owen Larson. Jackson and Larson had SDSU bests of six rebounds, while Lindsey registered three steals.
North Dakota was held to 29 points in the second half on 21.9% shooting. The Fighting Hawks finished 34.4% from the floor. They had three double-digit scorers led by Amar Kuljuhovic's 14.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State returns to First Bank & Trust Arena on Saturday. The Jackrabbits take on Oral Roberts at 4:15 p.m. as part of a doubleheader. The SDSU women's basketball team faces North Dakota in Brookings at 2 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-