South Dakota Stuns Nebraska-Omaha in 4-Point Upset

In a shocking turn of events, South Dakota pulled off a stunning upset over Nebraska-Omaha, defeating the Mavericks 68-64 at Baxter Arena. This victory marked a significant upset, as South Dakota, ranked 280th in the net rankings, took down the 268th-ranked Omaha. The Coyotes' win was all the more impressive given that CHD Scout had predicted an Omaha victory by 2.6 points, with a predicted score of 81-77. Instead, South Dakota's strong second-half performance propelled them to a 4-point win.

The game was closely contested from the start, with Omaha taking a slim 29-28 lead into halftime. However, South Dakota came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Mavericks 40-35 to secure the upset. Jordan Crawford was the star of the show for the Coyotes, pouring in 27 points and grabbing 5 rebounds to lead his team to victory. Uzziah Buntyn and Cameron Fens also made significant contributions, scoring 17 and 16 points, respectively, with Fens adding 6 rebounds.

Omaha's Paul Djobet did his best to keep the Mavericks in the game, scoring 22 points and pulling down 7 rebounds. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Coyotes. Tony Osburn and Grant Stubblefield chipped in with 8 and 7 points, respectively, but the Mavericks' offense ultimately fell short.

The upset win has real consequences for both teams' tournament chances. For South Dakota, the victory is a much-needed boost to their resume, particularly given that it came on the road against a higher-ranked opponent. Although it was a Quadrant 4 game for both teams, the win will still be valuable for the Coyotes as they look to improve their standing.

On the other hand, the loss is a disappointing setback for Omaha, which had been looking to build momentum. The Mavericks' defeat drops them to 10-12 on the season, and they must regroup quickly to get back on track. With the loss being a Quadrant 4 game, it won't be a devastating blow to their tournament chances, but it's still a missed opportunity for a team looking to make a push.

In the end, South Dakota's upset win over Nebraska-Omaha will be a significant talking point in the college basketball world. The Coyotes' ability to go on the road and take down a higher-ranked opponent is a reflection of their strength and resilience. As the season wears on, this win could be a crucial factor in determining South Dakota's tournament fate, and it will be interesting to see how they build on this momentum in the coming weeks.