BOX SCORE

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State used a big run in the second half to break a 40-40 game and went on to earn a 81-72 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday night.

SDSU All-American Nate Wolters scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Jackrabbits (4-2).  Chad White poured in 19 points off the bench for the Jackrabbits, including connecting on five 3-pointers.

Matt Zager scored 13 points to lead SMSU (2-3), while Lavione West added 12 points.  SMSU is now 3-12 all-time versus NCAA Division I teams.

SMSU leading scorer Jordan Miller, who entered the game averaging 14 points per game, was held to just seven points, but did finish with seven assists, six rebounds and two steals.  William Giddings added 11 points and six rebounds for the Mustangs, while Nick Smith added 10 points and eight rebounds to round out SMSU's double-digit scorers.  Jordan Buddenhagen had a solid night off the bench for SMSU with nine points on three 3-pointers.

SMSU finished the game shooting 51 percent (30 of 59) from the field, including 8 of 20 from 3-point range.  SDSU shot 44 percent (29 of 66) and connected on nine of 24 3-point attempts. 

SDSU held a 42-29 rebound advantage, including a 17-4 advantage on the offensive glass.  SDSU outscored SMSU 21-3 on second chance points.  SDSU was 14 of 23 from the free throw line, while SMSU was just 4 of 5.

West capped a 7-0 run by SMSU early in the second half to tie the game at 40-40 with 17 minutes and 24 seconds remaining, but SDSU rallied with its own 7-0 run to begin a 28-6 run over the next nine minutes to build a 68-46 lead with 8:33 left in the game.

SMSU wouldn't go away and cut the margin to 76-67 with 1:54 remaining following a Miller field goal, but SDSU made enough plays in the final two minutes to secure the victory.

SDSU held a lead for much of the game's opening minutes, before Zager tied the game at 15-15 with 12:28 left in the first half.

SDSU quickly regained the lead and built its largest lead of the half at 25-18 with 9:06 remaining.  SMSU slowly chipped into the lead and took its first lead since the game's first seconds as William Giddings drilled a 3-pointer with 5:22 remaining to give SMSU a 30-29 lead.

SDSU answered back with six straight points and eventually took a 38-33 halftime lead.  SMSU shot 50 percent in the first half with Zager leading the way with 10 points.

SMSU started the second half strong and used the 7-0 run capped by West's dunk to tie the game at 40-40.  The Jackrabbits then put together the decisive run in defeating SMSU for the fifth straight time.

Southwest Minnesota State continues non-conference play this weekend at the Northwest Missouri State Classic in Maryville, Mo.  SMSU opens with Central Missouri on Saturday with tip-off slated for 1 p.m., before taking on No. 24 Northwest Missouri State on Sunday starting at 3 p.m.