South Dakota at UND
We're underway in the Ralph. Good atmosphere, decent crowd. Now it's up to the Sioux men to make the Meltdown at the Ralph a success.
15:37 remaining first half, UND 2, USD 2
Travis Mertens scores on a drive and Roman Gentry scores a few minutes as both teams are off to a slow start. USD's size inside is making it difficult for the Sioux to get shots in the paint. UND is 1-7 from the field, USD 1-6. Must be the new surroundings
11:07 remaining first half, UND 10, USD 7
Travis Bledsoe and Patrick Mitchel have hit 3-pointers for the Sioux. It looks like points will be at a premium. Both teams aren't shooting well. UND is 4-14, USD 3-13.
7:53 remaining first half, UND 16, USD 16
Sioux led 16-11 but a Jake Thomas 3-pointer and inside basket by Tyler Cain has tied it up with Cain shooting a free throw out of the break. Brian Jones has been saying his team is getting better. He's right. Sioux playing with as much confidence as they have in a while. They've attacked on offense and have been solid for the most part defensively. Both teams still struggling from the field.
3:06 remaining first half, USD 24, UND 20
Freshman Jake Thomas is hurting the Sioux. His long 3-pointer has given the Coyotes a four-point advantage. He's a natural shooter and he's dangerous in transition. Sioux are attacking South Dakota's matchup zone and getting good shots. But it's tough going inside against the 6-8 Cain, who already has two blocks. UND is shooting 7-27, USD 8-21. Thomas so far is the key to the first 17 minutes
Halftime: USD 29, UND 23
South Dakota gains control in the last four minutes. Thomas' shooting has hurt the Sioux. UND has scored only 3 points in the last 4:39. Stats: UND 8-32 (3-11 3-pointers), USD 10-25 (5-15 3-pointers); UND 22 rebounds, USD 23; UND 7 turnovers, USD 11
15:56 remaining, USD 35, UND 26
USD's Roman Gentry has hit back-to-back baskets in the lane to give the Coyotes some breathing room. Crowd is pretty quiet. Sioux have had a couple of costly turnovers in the opening minutes as well.
11:49 remaining, USD 50, UND 34
Coyotes are running away. In the first half, Thomas hurt the Sioux. Now, it's Gentry. Yotes are on a 21-5 run in the half. Sioux now have 15 turnovers after comming only seven in the first half. Crowd now silent, except for former Sioux football player Zach Babington-Johnson, who is giving it to the Yotes and officials. ZBJ has the attention of the USD players.
7:03 remaining, USD 61, UND 40
Yotes in total control. Yotes shooting 61 percent this half, UND 33 and 30 for the game. Thomas has 20 to lead USD, Bledsoe has 14 for UND
2:45 remaining, USD 74, UND 56
Not much has changed since Yotes broke it open earlier in the half. ZBJ continues to badger the USD players. He's keeping things interesting.
Final: USD 82, UND 64
All Yotes for the last 30 minutes. This game wasn't nearly as close as last week's USD 12-point win against the Sioux in Vermillion. Bledsoe finishes with 25 to lead UND.
