UPDATED: USD men’s basketball Summit League run ends against Denver, 71-55
The University of South Dakota men’s basketball team didn’t look like the January version of themselves Sunday night when they were handed defeat by the Denver Pioneers, 71-55.
For the second consecutive season, the Coyotes were dropped from the Summit League Tournament in the first round. This time, the result came at the hands of a Denver squad making their first Summit League tournament appearance.
“You’d like to extend your season,” USD’s lone senior Trevor Gruis said. “As a senior, it’s tough. It’s emotional. But we left it out on the floor. I wouldn’t have wanted to go out with any other group of guys.”
Denver, not USD, looked like the tournament-experienced team. The Pioneers grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the first half and scored 20 points off turnovers to send the Coyotes home.
“That was a good basketball team,” USD head coach Joey James said. “In the first half, we gave up 62 percent on the defensive end. In the second half we were trying to mix it up more, zone and man. They did a really nice job of making shots.”
The Pioneers also made 10 threes to keep USD at arms length for much of the contest.
USD’s lone senior Trevor Gruis left the court for the last time in a Coyote red uniform after fouling out, and the Coyotes finished 12-18 on the season.
“Hats off to them,” Gruis said. “They made some shots. We tried to stop them. They made some shots at the end.”
The team will head into the offseason with uncertainty, as an expected coaching search may surround the program and their lead big man will move on.
James in his first year, stepped in for former head coach Dave Boots before the season. He said it is not just him who was emotional after the loss.
“What a blessing,” James said. “I had the opportunity to lead a program I went to school at. There’s a lot of guys in there who got emotional. I believe the same thing they do. The red and white means a lot to me. It was a fun year.”
Denver was led offensively by Brett Olson, who had 20 points. It was Olson’s third game with 20 points against USD this season.
“I try to play my game every night no matter where we are at,” Olson said. “That was the same tonight.”
Junior guard Brandon Bos led the Coyotes with 13 points while Gruis ended with 12.
Meanwhile, Denver will advance to play the Summit League’s number one seed North Dakota State Monday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
