Jake Thomas

Game 23
Opponent: Chicago State
When: Thursday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m. CT
Where: DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
Live Stats: USDCoyotes.com
Live Audio: B1027.com
Live Video: USDCoyotes.com
Television: None

On the Slate
The University of South Dakota men’s basketball team returns to Great West Conference action this weekend with a chance to take a commanding lead in the final weeks of the regular season, as five of the Coyotes’ last seven games are in the DakotaDome. USD (13-9, 4-1 GWC) opens a three-game homestand against Chicago State (7-18, 2-5 GWC) on Thursday. The game is scheduled to tip at 8 p.m. and is part of men’s and women’s doubleheader. USD's doubleheader with NJIT on Saturday, Feb. 13, has been postponed. Click on the link above for more information.

Live stats and video for the game can be found on USD’s web site at USDCoyotes.com, while live audio can be followed at B1027.com.

Scouting the Opponents
Picked in the preseason poll to finish third in the league, Chicago State enters the weekend at 7-18 on the year and last in the Great West at 2-5. The Cougars dropped nine contests to start the New Year but have rebounded to win two of their last four, including a 76-69 victory over Texas-Pan American on Feb. 6. Christian Wall and Kabangu Tshinga Kasamba each scored a game-high 18 points, while preseason All-GWC first-team selection Carl Montgomery posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Three of CSU’s final six games are on the road. Head Coach Benjy Taylor is 37-48 in three seasons at the school.

Coyote History versus the Opponents
A new opponent to the Coyotes, USD holds a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series over Chicago State. In their only previous meeting, South Dakota claimed a 97-84 home win over Chicago State (then known as Chicago Teachers) during the 1963-64 season.

Last Time Out: Hot-Shooting Coyote Men Down SIUE, 91-69
The South Dakota men’s basketball team hit its first 11 shots from the field in the second half to turn a 12-point halftime lead into a 91-69 blowout of SIU Edwardsville on Feb. 5 at the Vadalabene Center. in Edwardsville, Ill. The non-conference victory moved USD to 13-9 on the season and gave the Coyotes their longest winning streak of the season at four games.

Senior forward Tyler Cain led USD with 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocks, while sophomore guard Louie Krogman notched 15 points thanks in part to three treys. Senior center Steve Smith added 14 and junior guard Mitchell Bouie chipped in 11. Freshman guard Jake Thomas had a team-high five assists.

USD shot 65 percent (37-of-57) from the field for the game, including 70 percent (19-of-27) in the second half, while connecting on 6-of-12 (50 percent) treys and the Coyote defense held the Cougars to 39 percent (27-of-69). South Dakota outscored SIUE 54-26 in the paint and had an 18-0 advantage on the fast break.

The Coyotes jumped out to an early 9-5 advantage in the first four minutes, as Smith and Cain scored the first nine USD points. SIUE cut the lead the one at 13-12, but a quick 8-0 spurt by South Dakota was capped by a Krogman three and put USD up 21-12 at the 12:28 mark. The teams exchanged buckets over the next four minutes until a Bouie layup made the USD lead 11.

The Cougars (3-20) fought back again to draw within three at 33-30 with 2:43 left, before the Coyotes ended the half with a 10-1 run to take a 43-31 lead into the locker room. Redshirt freshman Jordan Boots hit a trey, Bouie converted an old fashion three-point play and Cain topped the run with a dunk. USD shot 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field and scored 28 points in the paint in the half, while holding SIUE to 40 percent (12-of-30). Cain had 13 points, while Smith chipped in nine and Bouie had seven.

Senior forward Roman Gentry hit a quick three to open the second half and the Coyotes blew the game open from there with some near-flawless basketball. USD hit its first 11 shots of the half, including four treys, as the Coyotes didn’t miss until Krogman couldn’t connect on a three at the 10:57 mark. Smith, Cain, Bouie and junior guard Kendall Cutler all contributed to run the lead to as many as 19, before back-to-back treys from Krogman and another from Boots put USD up 68-43 with 12:58 left.

The Coyotes couldn’t keep up the torrid pace, though, and SIUE cut the lead to 18 with just under 10 minutes left. Buckets from Krogman and free throws down the stretch allowed USD to take the advantage over 20 again and cruise from there. Krogman had 12 points in the half.

Gentry Grabs Great West Honors
USD senior Roman Gentry was selected the Great West Conference Player of the Week, the league announced on Feb. 1. It was the first weekly honor for Gentry and he was the fifth Coyote to earn the accolade this season.

A native of Sioux City, Iowa, Gentry posted back-to-back double-digit performances while guiding South Dakota to two road wins. He claimed 22 points and three assists in USD’s 92-70 win over Houston Baptist on Jan. 28 and notched the game-winning basket with four seconds left in the Coyotes’ 72-71 win at Texas-Pan American on Jan. 30. Against the Broncs, Gentry scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

D1 Dividends
The Coyotes have earned some quality victories against NCAA Division I opponents. After starting the year 2-8 against DI foes, USD has rebounded to win seven of its last eight contests by an average of 18.25 points to move to 9-9 against DI this season.

Bonus from the Bench
With only 11 players on the roster and freshman Cliff Warner redshirting his first season in the program, the Coyotes have a limited number of bodies off the bench. That being said, USD’s reserves have played well. In the last three games, USD’s bench has outscored the opponent’s bench 95-38, including a 40-12 advantage last Friday at SIU Edwardsville.

For the complete notes, click on the link above.