Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D.: The University of South Dakota's Jesse Becker converted a three-point play with seven seconds left and a controversial charge call on Southwest Minnesota State in the game's final seconds helped USD earn a hard fought 73-69 non-conference victory on Monday night in Vermillion, S.D.

SMSU senior guard Andy Beilke gave SMSU its first lead of the game with 15 seconds left hitting a jump shot to give SMSU a 69-67 lead.  On the next USD possession Becker drove to the rim, scored the field goal and connected on the free throw to give the Coyotes a 70-69 lead.   

SMSU then hurried down the floor to attempt a game-winning shot as Beilke passed to Ross DeMasi who scored with 1.5 seconds left but the field goal was called off and a charge foul was called on DeMasi.  SMSU head coach Greg Stemen was then called for a technical foul and the Coyotes made three of four free throws to seal the victory.

SMSU drops to 7-4 overall with the loss, while USD improves to 8-5.

South Dakota held an eight-point 65-57 lead with 4:27 left in the game before the Mustangs rallied and took the lead.  A free throw by Scott Roehl and a field goal by DeMasi and a field goal by Roehl cut the lead to 64-61 with 3:16 left in the game.  USD then made three of four free throws in the next 40 seconds to push the lead to 67-61 with 2:24 on the clock.

DeMasi then hit one of two free throws to pull SMSU to within 67-62 and SMSU was able to secure the rebound off the second free throw miss.  Following the missed free throw DeMasi drilled his first three-pointer of the season to cut the USD lead to 67-65 with 1:48 remaining.

The Mustangs forced a missed shot by USD on the ensuing possesion and SMSU answered back as Beilke drilled a jumper to tie the game at 67-67 with just over a minute remaining in the game.

The SMSU defense then stepped up again as Becker was called for an offensive foul to give the Mustangs the ball with 48 seconds on the clock.  

Once again it was Beilke, who hit the game-winning three-point shot just over a week ago at the University of Mary, drilling a field goal with 15 seconds on the clock to give the Mustangs its only lead of the game, but it was short lived as Becker came back and hit the basket and the free throws.

It was another solid game for DeMasi as he scored 10 points and tied a career-high with 16 rebounds in 35 minutes of action.  Taylor Huseby added 10 points for SMSU on 5 of 6 shooting in just 11 minutes.

It was a balanced scoring attack for SMSU as 10 players scored at least three points in the game.  Nick Dale and Beilke each added nine points while Ryan Krome chipped in with eight points.  Roehl came off the bench to pull down a career-high nine rebounds.

SMSU shot 47.5 percent from the field (28 of 59) including 30 percent (3 of 10) from three-point range.  The Mustangs finished 10 of 19 from the free throw line.  SMSU finished with a 40-32 rebound advantage.

Becker led all scorers in the game with 24 points.   USD entered the game shooting just 33 percent from three-point range on the second, but made 6 of 10 in the first half and finished the game making 8 of 18 three-pointers.

SMSU will be off for eight days before returning to non-conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at the University of Sioux Falls.