The South Dakota State Jackrabbits and the South Dakota Coyotes meet Saturday in college basketball action from Sanford Coyote Sports Center. South Dakota State is 8-9 overall this year. The Jackrabbits eked out a win over North Dakota last weekend. As for South Dakota, they’re also 8-9 overall following a loss to North Dakota State. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
South Dakota State was 5-7 after 12 games this year, beating Boise State, St. Bonaventure, Valparaiso, Eastern Washington and Mount Marty. The Jackrabbits are 3-2 since then with wins over Western Illinois, St. Thomas MN and North Dakota.
Matched up against North Dakota last Saturday, the Jackrabbits were outscored 33-20 in the first half. South Dakota State stormed back on a 40-26 second half and won it 60-59. Both Matt Dentlinger and Zeke Mayo scored 14 points apiece.
Over on the South Dakota side, they were also 5-7 after 12 games with wins over Lipscomb, Dakota State, LIU, Mount Marty and BYU. The Coyotes are 3-2 in their last five with wins over St. Thomas MN, Western Illinois and North Dakota.
Last Saturday in the North Dakota game, South Dakota took a 33-25 advantage into the break. The Coyotes were outscored 48-28 from there and lost 73-61. Kruz Perrott-Hunt was the top scorer on 26 points and three rebounds.
PICK: I’m probably going to stay with South Dakota State. You could make a case either way in this one, though; it seems a pretty even matchup. That said, the Jackrabbits haven’t exactly been tearing up the scoreboard lately but they’ve done a pretty good job on defense with 65 or fewer points allowed in four straight outings. South Dakota is in something of the same boat; they’ve given up 63 or fewer in three of their last five but have only scored a combined 123 points across their last pair. I like this one to be close most of the way. I’m leaning South Dakota State cover-wise but I’m probably staying away.