South Dakota dominated Southern Indiana from start to finish, earning a convincing 89-74 victory at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. The Coyotes' strong performance was led by Isaac Bruns and Shey Eberwein, who each scored 18 points to pace the team. Bruns also added 7 rebounds, showcasing his all-around skills on the court.
The game got off to a strong start for South Dakota, as they built a 12-point lead by halftime, with the score sitting at 44-32. The Coyotes' offense was clicking on all cylinders, with multiple players contributing to the scoring effort. Cameron Fens chipped in with 12 points, helping to stretch the defense and create opportunities for his teammates.
Southern Indiana's Ismail Habib did his best to keep the Screaming Eagles in the game, scoring a team-high 19 points. Kaden Brown added 18 points, and Cardell Bailey contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Coyotes' balanced attack. Despite a stronger second half, in which they scored 42 points, Southern Indiana couldn't close the gap.
The Coyotes' ability to maintain their lead throughout the game was impressive, as they never allowed Southern Indiana to get closer than 10 points in the second half. South Dakota's 45 points in the second half ensured that they would come away with the win, and the final margin of 15 points reflected their dominance.
This game was a Quad 4 matchup for both teams, which can be challenging for resume-building purposes. However, South Dakota's victory will still be a valuable addition to their portfolio, as they improved to 11-11 on the season. The Coyotes' net ranking of 280 will likely see a slight boost, which could be important as the season progresses.
For Southern Indiana, the loss drops them to 5-15, and their net ranking of 331 will remain a challenge to overcome. While the Screaming Eagles have shown flashes of strong play, they must string together more consistent performances to improve their tournament chances.
In the end, South Dakota's strong team effort and balanced scoring was too much for Southern Indiana to handle. The Coyotes' victory is a reflection of their ability to take care of business at home, and they want to build on this momentum as they continue through their schedule. With this win, South Dakota takes a step forward in their pursuit of a strong season, while Southern Indiana must regroup and refocus to get back on track. The resume implications of this result are clear: South Dakota has added a valuable win to their portfolio, while Southern Indiana must work harder to make up for this loss.