BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State used an eight-point scoring run late in the second half to lift the Jackrabbits past Kansas City, 70-65, in a Senior Day home finale at First Bank & Trust Arena Sunday.Â
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Kansas City gained control of the momentum and the score when Jamar Brown hit a 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the contest, to put the Roos ahead 59-52. The Jacks and Roos then traded baskets as the clock dipped under the five-minute mark.Â
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SDSU's
Jaden Jackson drained a 3-pointer to cut the deficit down to four. The Jacks forced a missed Roos jumper, leading to a
Kalen Garry floater in the paint to cut Kansas City's advantage to a single possession. The Roos' ensuing possession saw the visiting side rebound two missed field goals before the Jacks grabbed a defensive rebound.Â
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The Jackrabbits completed a seven-point stretch as
Oscar Cluff dished the ball back to Jackson who connected on another trey, putting SDSU briefly ahead 62-61, with 2:16 to play.Â
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A Kansas City free throw tied the score at 62 as the clock went under two minutes left. The two sides again traded baskets to tie the score at 64-64.Â
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Cluff used a move under the rim to finish off a layup and give the Jackrabbits the eventual-game winning bucket, putting SDSU on top 66-64 with 47 seconds to go. The Jackrabbits forced a turnover on the Roos' next possession.Â
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Jackson essentially put the game out of reach by hitting two free throws with 13 seconds left. The Roos made a free throw with six seconds on the clock, but SDSU's
Joe Sayler put a cap on the matchup by making two at the charity stripe with a second to play.
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The Jackrabbits improved to 19-10 overall and 10-4 in Summit League action with the victory. Kansas City fell to 11-18 (3-11).Â
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NOTES
- Both teams finished within a percentage point of each other from the field as SDSU shot 45.5%. SDSU was held to 6 of 18 from 3-point range, while Kansas City was 11-for-26 (42.3%). The Jackrabbits had a 14 of 18 (77.8%) clip at the charity stripe while the Roos were held to 2 of 4.
- Cluff led South Dakota State by scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 boards. The senior center logged his 20th double-double of the season. He also had a career-high four steals.Â
- Joining Cluff in double digits in the score column were Jackson (11), Garry (11) and Stoney Hadnot (10). Larson had a team-high six assists.Â
- Kansas City had the game's scoring leaders in Brown (21) and Babacar Diallo (18). Brown also had nine rebounds, while he and Diallo had three steals apiece.Â
- South Dakota State led for a majority of the first half. The Jackrabbits led by as many as eight and held the advantage for nearly 15 minutes. SDSU went into halftime up 34-32, however Larson went down at the break and didn't return to the contest due to a knee injury.Â
- The Senior Day game for South Dakota State featured 3,425 spectators in attendance. The Jackrabbits recognized Nate Barnhart, Oscar Cluff and Isaac Lindsey prior to tipoff.Â
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UP NEXT
South Dakota State plays its final two regular season games on the road. The Jackrabbits begin their road trip with a 7 p.m. matchup on Thursday at Oral Roberts. Â
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