Basketball: Northern Kentucky's shooting outpaces South Dakota defense

Noah Pagotto scored 30 points as Northern Kentucky defeated South Dakota 102-94 on Wednesday night at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota. The Norse shot 62.5% from the field, a statistical advantage that proved decisive over the Coyotes.

South Dakota struggled to contain Pagotto, a senior who operated as a small-ball five. USD coach Eric Peterson noted that the player's ability to shoot from the perimeter made him a difficult matchup for the team's larger defenders. Peterson stated that the game was scheduled to test the team against a high-caliber opponent during the non-conference portion of the season.

The Norse took control in the first half, which featured seven lead changes in the opening six minutes. After a brief South Dakota lead, Northern Kentucky executed a 9-0 run to take a 24-16 advantage. The visitors never trailed for the remainder of the contest. The Norse finished the first half on a 65.5% shooting clip, converting 19 of their first 29 field goal attempts.

South Dakota attempted to close the gap in the second half. Senior Cade Kelderman hit a jumper with 15:26 remaining to cut the lead to one point, making the score 57-56. However, Willie Foster answered with a three-pointer. That bucket started an 18-6 run for Northern Kentucky, which extended their lead to 13 points with 11:33 left in the game.

Foster, a freshman, led the Norse with 22 points, including 18 in the second half. He also made three of his five three-point attempts. Eric Acker contributed a double-double with 22 points and 12 assists. B.J. Davis-Ray added 15 points, while Donovan Rakotonanahary provided 10 points off the bench. Five Northern Kentucky players finished with double-digit scoring.

South Dakota led by senior transfer Jahni Summers, who scored 24 points. Vince Buzelis added 20 points, Kajus Kublickas contributed 15, and Stef van Bussel recorded 13 points and seven rebounds. The Coyotes shot 51.7% from the field but committed 15 turnovers. Of those 15 turnovers, 11 occurred in the first half, resulting in 11 points for Northern Kentucky.

Kelderman, a senior, emphasized the need for the team to handle the ball with more care. He said the team must value every possession to ensure they get shots up. He noted that the coaching staff encourages simple plays, but the team sometimes attempts too much, leading to errant passes.

The Norse extended their lead to 90-74 with 5:53 remaining after Gabrielius Jokubauskas hit a three-pointer. South Dakota mounted an 18-6 run to close within 96-92 with under 40 seconds left. Northern Kentucky scored the final six points to secure the victory. The Norse finished 9 of 14 from three-point range.

Northern Kentucky is a member of the Horizon League and was picked to finish fifth in the preseason coaches poll. The team improved to 2-0 on the season, while South Dakota fell to 1-1.

South Dakota hosts Cal State Fullerton at 1 p.m. Saturday in Vermillion. Fullerton was selected to finish eighth in the Big West Conference. Peterson said the team hopes to use the loss to Northern Kentucky to make adjustments before the next game.