Jacks drop Denver for second straight win

Tuesday, December 18

Frost Arena

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Denver

12/18/2007 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

BROOKINGS, S.D. ? Sophomore Kai Williams made his first five three-pointers on his way to scoring a game-high 25 points as South Dakota State downed Denver on Tuesday by the score of 56-52 in front of 1,307 fans at Frost Arena.

Williams also added a game-high ten rebounds on the night to complete the double-double for the Jackrabbits, who improve to 5-6 heading into the holiday break. Denver falls to 3-6 with the loss.

Senior Ben Beran added 12 points for the Jacks in the win, while sophomore Garrett Callahan added nine, including a key three-pointer late in the game.

True freshman Dale Moss made his impact on defense, pulling down nine rebounds and blocking three shots, both career-highs. Moss also added four points.

A Beran lay up got things started, but Denver answered with a three-pointer from David Kummer, staring a back and forth first half battle that saw ten lead changes and five ties.

Williams did most of his damage in the first half, going 5-for-6 total from the floor and 4-for-4 from beyond the three-point arc, including a buzzer beater from the corner that game the Jacks a 30-26 halftime lead.

The Jacks increased their lead to as many as eight points early in the second half, but went on a seven minute scoring drought after a Williams dunk with 16:03 on the clock.

During that scoreless streak, the Jacks committed four of their 14 turnovers, but held the Pioneers to Just four points before Williams ended the dry spell with nine minutes left to play.

Denver kept chipping away though, until Adam Tanner broke a 44-all tie with 4:43 left to give the Pioneers a 46-44 lead.

SDSU would come back to tie the game at 46 and at 48, only to see Denver go back in front each time.

The Jacks stayed the course, and the final lead change came on a Callahan three-pointer with 1:17 to go put the Jacks up 51-50.

South Dakota State never trailed again, and sank some key free throws down the stretch to secure the four-point win.

The Jacks dominated the boards again Tuesday, out rebounding the Pioneers 31-19, but they committed eight more turnovers than Denver, who turned the ball over just six times.

The SDSU defense did its job, holding the Pioneers to a 44.7 (21-of-47) shooting percentage in the game.

Thanks mostly to Williams' first half effort, the Jacks shot 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the floor and 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from three-point range in the first half, but shot just 43.8 percent (7-of-16) in the second half for a game total of 48.6 percent.

The three-point percentage also fell back in the second half to 33.3 percent (2-for-6).

The Jackrabbits now get a much needed break before they return to action on Dec. 28, in Bakersfield, Calif., against the Cal State-Bakersfield Runners.

Tip off from Rabobank Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT, 9 p.m. CT.

Following the CSUB game, the Jacks head north to San Jose, Calif., to take on The San Jose State Spartans on Dec. 30.