DENVER BEATS JACKS THURSDAY

Thursday, February 12

Denver, Colo.

8 p.m.

South Dakota State University

11-15,4-7Summit League

Denver

13-14,6-6Summit League

South Dakota St.

Denver

Kalen Garry

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

2/12/2026 9:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

DENVER – Denver pushed its lead to double digits nine minutes into the contest and didn't look back on its way to a 79-61 Summit League men's basketball victory over South Dakota State on Thursday in Hamilton Gymnasium.

The two sides were tied at 8-8 a couple minutes into the matchup, but the Pioneers pulled away at that point. The Pioneers took their largest lead of the first half, 27-10, at the 10:07 mark.

SDSU trimmed at the deficit and pulled within seven, 32-25, following a Joe Sayler field goal with 1:35 remaining in the first half. Denver's Carson Johnson scored the half's final four points to put the Pioneers ahead 36-25 at halftime.

Both teams shot less than 40% from the field in the first half. The Pioneers held an advantage on the boards, outrebounding Denver 24-14, while Denver was 6-for-14 from 3-point range and SDSU went 0-for-8.

The closest the Jackrabbits cut the margin to was 10 at the start of the second half. The Pios led by as many as 20 late in the game.

Denver eventually finished the night shooting 48.3% from the field and went 12 of 23 (52.2%) from deep. The Pioneers outrebounded SDSU 43-29. The Pioneers were led in scoring by Johnson's 23 points. He was followed by Jeremiah Burke who notched 18 and registered a double-double behind 12 rebounds. Johnson had a game-high five assists.

South Dakota State was held to 38.5% from the field and made just two 3-pointers. The Jackrabbits were only able to dish out three assists. The Jackrabbits were led in scoring by Damon Wilkinson (18), Sayler (15) and Kalen Garry (15). Jaden Jackson had a game-high three steals.

NOTES

Denver improved to 13-14 overall and 6-6 in Summit League play. South Dakota State dropped to 11-15 (4-7).
SDSU's loss in Denver was its third straight in Hamilton Gym. It's the last time the Jackrabbits will play a Summit League contest in Denver with the Pioneers' transition to the West Coast Conference next season.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State continues its road trip on Saturday. The Jackrabbits head to Tulsa, Okla., to face Oral Roberts at 7 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-