Louie Krogman

Game 17
Opponent: North Dakota
When: Saturday, Jan. 16, 8 p.m. CT
Where: DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
Live Stats: USDCoyotes.com
Live Audio: B1027.com
Live Video: USDCoyotes.com
Television: Midcontinent (Channel 23)

On the Slate
South Dakota basketball opens a new chapter in its storied history when the Coyote men contest their first ever game in the Great West Conference on Saturday against North Dakota. Tip is set for 8 p.m. in the DakotaDome. USD (8-8) enters with a two-game winning streak after posting the first back-to-back wins over NCAA Division I in consecutive games in school history by defeating SIU Edwardsville (100-76) and Longwood (75-63). The Fighting Sioux opened Great West play yesterday with a 67-62 win at Utah Valley to move to 3-14 on the season and 1-0 in the league.

In honor of the event, the USD Athletic Department is calling for a Redout of the DakotaDome and encouraging all Coyote fans to wear red to the game. The first 500 fans will also receive a free USD T-shirt courtesy of Dodge.

Midcontinent Communications will televise the game live on cable channel 23 with Tom Nieman (analyst) and former Coyote Shane Murphy (color) on the call. Live stats and live video for the game can be found on South Dakota’s web site at USDCoyotes.com, while live audio can be followed at B1027.com.

Scouting the Fighting Sioux
Head coach Brian Jones and the Fighting Sioux posted a 16-12 record last season, including a two-point win over USD late last season, but only one starter returned from that squad and UND has started this season with a 3-14 mark. North Dakota began its campaign with three losses, before picking up a 79-55 home win over Waldorf College on Nov. 24. The Fighting Sioux lost their next eight contests, including being downed by formidable foes such as Drake, Northern Iowa and Iowa State, but also lost at home to NAIA-school Mayville State. UND claimed its second win of the season with a 69-58 home victory over St. Olaf, but lost its next two contests. North Dakota opened Great West play with a 67-62 win over Utah Valley on Thursday night in Orem.

Senior forward Travis Mertens is the only Sioux to average in double-figure points with 10.2 per game, and also leads the team in rebounds per game (6.9), assists (30) and steals (19). Sophomore guard Patrick Mitchell averages 7.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest and has a team-leading 15 blocks on the season. As a team, North Dakota scores 56.4 points per game while allowing 69.9. The Fighting Sioux are shooting 40 percent from the field compared to 44 percent for their opponents.

Coyote History versus the Fighting Sioux
One of South Dakota basketball’s oldest rivalries, UND holds a slight 96-86 all-time advantage over USD in a series that dates back to 1923. The Coyotes are 49-34 in games contested in Vermillion, but USD head coach Dave Boots boasts an impressive 34-15 record against the Sioux, including an 11-2 mark in the last 13 meetings. The two programs met three times last season with USD picking up wins in Grand Forks (98-77) on Jan. 24 and in the DakotaDome (86-75) on Jan. 31, before losing to the Sioux (68-66) at the Spring Thaw tournament on March 7.

Last Time Out: Gentry, Cain Power Coyotes Past Longwood
Seniors Roman Gentry and Tyler Cain combined for 41 points to lead the University of South Dakota to a 75-63 win over Longwood in nonconference men’s basketball action last Tuesday night in the DakotaDome.

Gentry finished with 21 points, while Cain had 20 and 14 rebounds. The two combined to go 15-of-29 from the field. Cain recorded his sixth double-double of the season and Gentry also had seven rebounds. Junior guard Kendall Cutler added 12 points and a game-high five assists for USD.

USD slowly pulled away in the second half after building a three-point halftime lead. Longwood cut the lead to one to start the second, but USD scored five straight – two on a Cain dunk and three points on free throws – to extend the lead back to 37-31.

Moments later, the lead grew to 46-38 with 16:01 left, thanks to four straight Coyote points – coming on a dunk by Cain and a jumper by freshman guard Jake Thomas. USD opened the second half by hitting five of its first six field goals (83.3 percent). Two free throws by Thomas at the 15:22 mark gave USD its first double-digit lead at 48-38.

Longwood cut the deficit back down to three at 54-51 by Martiz Washington with 10:56 left. The USD lead stood at 59-57 with 8:45 left before the Coyotes went on a 10-2 run, capped off by a three by Gentry, to build a 69-59 lead with 4:31 left.

The Lancers never got closer than eight the rest of the way as USD rolled to its second straight home win. Junior guard Mitchell Bouie added eight points and five rebounds. USD finished the game shooting 50 percent (27-of-54), compared to 37.5 percent (24-of-64) for Longwood (4-14).

The Coyotes trailed 5-2 early but turned that around quickly with a 9-0 run, sparked by four points from freshman forward Conrad Krutwig to take an 11-5 with 13:28 left in the half.

Longwood cut the lead to 13-11 before USD scored six straight points – four coming from Gentry and two from Cain – to stretch the lead to 19-11 with 10:52 left. The Lancers fought back to take a 25-24 lead with 4:54 left thanks to a 14-5 spurt. The Coyotes regained the lead at 27-25 after a three-pointer by Gentry with 3:03 left.

Although Longwood briefly regained the lead, USD scored the final four points of the half – with Cain and Cutler each scoring on layups – to take a 32-29 advantage into the break. Cain led USD with nine points, while Gentry had eight and Krutwig six. USD shot 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from the field, compared to 37.5 (12-of-32) for Longwood.

Back-to-Back Big Wins
South Dakota’s 75-63 win over Longwood moved the Coyotes to 8-8 on the season, but also helped USD notch another step in its transition to NCAA Division I. The victory gave the Coyotes their first ever back-to-back wins over DI programs in consecutive games. USD earned two consecutive wins over DI teams last year with victories against New Orleans and North Dakota, but the games were separated by six contests.

Two for 20
USD has had four players post six 20-point games during the 2009-10 season, but last Tuesday’s win over Longwood was the first time this season that two Coyotes accomplished the feat in the same game. Seniors Tyler Cain and Roman Gentry combined for 41 of USD’s 75 points to lead South Dakota to a 75-63 win. Gentry finished with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, while Cain had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.
Hot from the Floor

South Dakota’s first back-to-back wins over NCAA Division I programs in consecutive games is thanks in part to some hot shooting. The Coyotes nailed 59 percent (34-of-57) of their shots against SIU Edwardsville for a 100-76 victory and followed with 50 percent (27-of-54) against Longwood for a 75-63 win.

A Hold on Halftime
The Coyotes have shown an ability to hang onto a halftime lead this season. USD is 8-1 when they have an advantage at the break, with their only loss coming to Morehead State (Ky.).

For the complete notes, click on the link above.