South Dakota basketball holds off Western Illinois at buzzer in 75-72 win, extends win streak to five
Western Illinois’ 3-pointer at the buzzer missed as South Dakota men’s basketball held onto a 75-72 win, extending its winning streak to five games Monday in Macomb, Illinois.
The Fighting Leathernecks (12-8, 3-4 Summit) had two shots to tie it at the end of the game after South Dakota guard Mason Archambault missed a layup on the Coyotes’ (12-5, 5-3) final full offensive possession, but each of them missed. South Dakota forward Damani Hayes secured the rebound after the first miss and hit 1-of-2 free throws, forcing Western Illinois into a desperation 3-pointer to tie the game as the buzzer sounded, but it missed.
South Dakota forward Tasos Kamateros led the Coyotes with 17 points and 10 rebounds despite a 1-for-7 performance from 3-point range. Guard Mason Archambault had 15 points, guard Boogie Anderson had 14 points and six assists and guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt had 11 points, scoring all of his points in the first half of the game.
South Dakota looked like it would be dominant early in the game. It jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the opening tip, and though Western Illinois eventually got on the scoreboard, the Coyotes flirted with that 10-point lead for a considerable period.
Keaton Kutcher (seven points), who had shown a spot up game in the first few games that he’s played in, hit back-to-back pullup jumpers to grow the lead.
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But Western Illinois’ first two 3-pointers coincided with three missed shots and a turnover from the Coyotes. After two free throws, Western Illinois cut South Dakota’s lead all the way to one, but USD wouldn’t let the Fighting Leathernecks grab the lead. Anderson had a few layups and on the last possession of the half, Perrott-Hunt scored a layup before the clock expired to give the Coyotes a four-point lead.
Though the make never sparked any sort of explosion for South Dakota, USD held a steady hold of the lead for much of the second half. Anderson found room inside, forward Hunter Goodrick kept taking high-percentage shots, Tasos Kamateros added a few layups when his 3-pointers wouldn’t fall.
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Western Illinois cut it to one again, though. USD guard Mason Archambault hit a layup and a two-point jumper, sandwiching two missed free throws by Western Illinois. Kamateros added a jumper and down the stretch of the game, Archambault converted on several trips of the line to give USD the cushion it needed.
Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota basketball holds off WIU at buzzer for fifth-straight win
