TULSA, Okla. – Four Jackrabbits scored in double digits as South Dakota State used a late scoring run to outlast Oral Roberts, 77-69, in a Summit League men's basketball clash in the Mabee Center on Thursday.Â
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The two teams played nearly the entire game within striking distance of one another. The contest featured 14 lead changes and nine tie scores over the 40 minutes of action.Â
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Both teams had five-point leads during the opening half before a
Jaden Jackson 3-pointer at the buzzer put the Jacks up, 31-29, at halftime.Â
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The Golden Eagles took a 36-33 lead on a Sam Alajiki 3-pointer 17:30 remaining. The Jacks responded with a seven-point scoring run to gain control of the advantage. SDSU led by six on two occasions but eventually saw the score flip the Golden Eagles' way once until a
Joe Sayler 3-pointer put SDSU ahead, 60-58. The foes were tied again when ORU's Issac McBride connected on a jumper to make it 60-60 with 6:27 left.Â
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South Dakota State followed with a seven-point scoring spree.
Oscar Cluff made a layup,
Matthew Mors drained a 3-pointer, then a pair of Cluff free throws extended the Jacks edge to 67-60 with 4:31 to play.
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The Jackrabbits got up 69-61, but the Golden Eagles wouldn't go away as a McBride four-point play and JoJo Moore layup cut their deficit to 69-67. SDSU's ensuing possession saw
Kalen Garry drill a 3-pointer to give the Jacks a two-possession cushion. The Jackrabbits made consecutive stops defensively and closed the game out at the free throw line. Â
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The Jackrabbits improved to 20-10 overall and 11-4 in Summit League action. Oral Roberts dropped to 7-21 (3-12).
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NOTES
- South Dakota State outshot Oral Roberts 46.7-40.4% from the field and 36.8-31.0% from 3-point range. Both teams made 14 free throws, though it took SDSU seven more attempts to do so.Â
- SDSU outrebounded ORU by a 45-28 margin led by Cluff's 12. Cluff registered his 21st double-double of the season as he scored a team-high 22 points and dished out a game-high five assists.Â
- Cluff was followed in double digits scoring by Sayler (12), Jackson (11) and Stoney Hadnot (10). Hadnot nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds.Â
- Three Golden Eagles scored in double digits including McBride (23), Alajiki (18) and Jalen Miller (11).Â
- South Dakota State continues an impressive stretch in its program history by surpassing the 20-win plateau. The Jackrabbits have won 20 or more games in six of the last eight seasons, as well as in 10 of the last 14 campaigns.
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UP NEXT
South Dakota State travels to Denver for its final regular season matchup before conference tournament play. The Jackrabbits face the Pioneers in Hamilton Gymnasium at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday.Â
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-GoJacks.com-
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