STRONG FINISH PROPELS JACKRABBITS OVER FIGHTING HAWKS

Saturday, February 21

Brookings, S.D.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

13-16,6-8Summit League

North Dakota

16-15,10-5Summit League

North Dakota

South Dakota St.

Kalen Garry

Photo by: Evan Patzwald

2/21/2026 5:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State scored eight unanswered points over the final two minutes of regulation to surge past North Dakota for a 91-83 victory on Saturday, Feb. 21, in a Summit League men's basketball matchup in First Bank & Trust Arena.

In a game that featured nine lead changes and eight tie scores, the Jackrabbits delivered the last punch.

The score was knotted at 83-83 as the clock dipped under 1 minutes, 30 seconds in regulation. SDSU's Kalen Garry broke the tie with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to give the Jacks an 86-83 advantage. North Dakota missed a shot on its ensuing possession and the rebound was corralled by Matthew Mors. The SDSU senior was fouled on the Jackrabbits' next time down the floor and Mors knocked down two free throws with 36 seconds remaining.

The Jackrabbits forced a turnover with Joe Sayler being credited for a steal following a successful coach's challenge. The sophomore guard for SDSU knocked down two more ensuing free throws with 28 seconds on the clock. Another defensive stop for the Jackrabbits led to a free throw by Jaden Jackson as SDSU held North Dakota scoreless over the final 1:53 of action.

South Dakota State had to complete a comeback that saw the Jacks trail by as many as 11 in the first half. SDSU cut the deficit down to 44-42 at halftime. North Dakota outshot SDSU 59-52% from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

SDSU had two separate one-point leads in the second half before the Jacks finally pulled away in the final two minutes. Both teams shot under 50% in the second half, but the Jackrabbits completed the win from the charity stripe by going 14-for-16 on their free throw attempts.

South Dakota State improved to 13-16 overall and 6-8 in Summit League competition. North Dakota fell to 16-15 (10-5).

NOTES

The Jackrabbits outrebounded the Fighting Hawks by a 40-25 margin. SDSU made 14 3-pointers in the contest which is tied for its most in a single game this season.
SDSU's five starters all scored in double digits. Sayler led the way with 23 points. Mors matched his season high of 18 points on 7 of 10 from the field. Damon Wilkinson (15), Jaden Jackson (13) and Garry (13) also recorded double digits scoring, while Luke Haertle added eight off the bench.
Sayler had a game-high eight rebounds. He was followed by Mors with seven. Haertle dished out a team-high five assists.
North Dakota had three in double digits scoring in Greyson Uelmen (19), Garrett Anderson (18) and Eli King (14). Anderson had a team-high seven rebounds while Anthony Smith III recorded eight assists.
The win for SDSU ended a three-game skid to North Dakota. The Jackrabbits extended their win streak at home over the Fighting Hawks to 23 games which dates back to 1995.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State heads to the road for its final two games of the regular season. The Jackrabbits hit the hardwood next at 7 p.m. Thursday with a contest at Kansas City.

-GoJacks.com-