BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State opened Summit League play in emphatic fashion on Thursday by using a dominant second half, along with a career performance from Damon Wilkinson, to power past Omaha 84–69 inside First Bank & Trust Arena.
After a tightly contested first 20 minutes that ended knotted at 36, the Jackrabbits (8–8, 1–0 Summit League) exploded for 13 consecutive points to begin the second half. SDSU had a 49-36 lead less than four minutes into the final period and never allowed the advantage to dip down to a single possession. The Jacks eventually recorded 48 second-half points behind a 53.1% clip from the field. SDSU controlled the interior on both ends, owning a 52-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Wilkinson set the tone early. He registered a double-double by the end of the first half behind 15 points and 13 rebounds. The sophomore center eventually finished with 24 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and three assists.
While Wilkinson set the foundation, the rest of the Jackrabbit lineup increased its production as the second half progressed.
Joe Sayler caught fire from deep by hitting three 3-pointers, all in the second half, and poured in 14 points on the day. Matthew Mors added 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Kalen Garry scored 13 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out a game-high six assists. Jaden Jackson matched his career high with 10 rebounds.
SDSU’s defense was exceptional in the second half as the Jacks held the Mavericks to 28.1% shooting.
The Jackrabbits second-half performance came after the Mavericks bounced back from a double-digit deficit. A Bubz Alvarez layup put SDSU ahead 24-14 at the 9:30 mark of the first half. Omaha eventually tied the score at 28-28 with 4:15 on the clock.
South Dakota State finished the contest outshooting Omaha 47.7%-35.9%. The Jacks also were 17 of 21 (81%) at the charity stripe.
Omaha (7-9, 0-1) was led by Paul Djobet who scored 22 points. Julian Margrave came off the bench to add 14 points thanks to four 3-pointers. The Mavs’ leading scorers this season in Lance Waddles and Tony Osburn recorded nine and six points, respectively. Both shared team highs with five assists.
NOTES
- Wilkinson’s 24 points and 19 rebounds were each career highs as he registered his third double-double of his college career. The 19 rebounds are tied for the eighth most by a Jackrabbit in a single game in the program’s Division I era. He matched his career highs in both assists and blocks.
- SDSU finished the night with a 52-29 edge on the boards. The 52 rebounds by the Jackrabbits are tied for the fourth most by an SDSU squad in its Division I program history.
- The Jackrabbits led for over 34 minutes in the contest. The Mavericks held an advantage for just 52 seconds which came late in the first half.
- SDSU has now won 18 of the previous 20 matchups against Omaha. The Jacks have won their last six conference-opening contests and are now 12-7 in Summit League openers.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State hits the road for its first away contest of Summit League action. The Jackrabbits head to Grand Forks to take on North Dakota at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
-GoJacks.com-