Wolters second half surge leads Jackrabbits

Thursday, January 21

Frost Arena

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

IPFW

1/21/2010 11:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

South Dakota State trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half and by 14 points at halftime of Thursday's game against IPFW, but the Jackrabbits battled back for a hard-fought 65-64 come-from-behind victory at Frost Arena.

"I'd like to not see that ability (to come from behind) and that we actually show up and play from the start," said SDSU head coach Scott Nagy after the game. "It's nice that we've done that, but let's show up and play a full 40 minutes and give ourselves a way better chance and not have to do that."

True freshman Nate Wolters keyed the comeback, scoring 13 of the Jackrabbits final 15 points, his only points of the game, including a three-pointer with 5:37 left that gave SDSU a 57-56 lead that it would not relinquish.

"I said after the game, that it would be nice if you played the first half like you do the second," said Nagy of Wolters' second half performance. "Nate has just shown the ability all year when games have gotten tight, that's when he flat out wants to play the most. He hit that three to put us ahead, because it was like we can't get over the hump."

Anthony Cordova led the Jacks, who improve to 10-9 overall and 6-2 in The Summit League, with 14 points, Kai Williams scored 12 and pulled down 10 rebounds for the first Jackrabbit double-double of the season. Clint Sargent added 11 points in the win, including a perfect 6-for-6 night at the free throw line.

Defending co-league player of the week Deilvez Yearby led the Mastodons, who fall to 8-10 overall and 3-5 in league play, with 13 points and 11 rebounds, Ben Botts also scored 13 points and Jeremy Mixon scored 11 points off the bench.

Ice cold from the floor in the first half, the Jacks went into the lockerroom at the half shooting 29.6 percent from the floor, compared to a 51.6 percent effort from the Mastodons.

Just as the score would indicate though, the tables turned in the second half, when the Jacks shot 44 percent and held IPFW to 26 percent. The Jacks also turned the ball over just twice in the final 20 minutes, compared to six by the Dons.

The Jackrabbits return to action on Saturday, when the host Oakland at 7:30 p.m. The Jacks erased a 17-point second half deficit last season in Frost Arena to beat the Golden Grizzlies 74-68 in overtime.

In conjunction with Samaritan's Feet, Jacks head coach Scott Nagy will coach Saturday's game barefoot to raise money for earthquake relief in Haiti.

Anyone interested in donating to the cause can simply text SHOES to 85944, which automatically adds $5 to your next phone bill. Donations from the 605 area code go specifically to Haiti the earthquake relief efforts. Donations can also be made online at SamaritansFeet.org