CHICAGO – Junior Christian Wall (New Orleans, LA/John Ehret) (New Orleans, La.) recorded a game-high 20 points as host Chicago State fell to Great West Conference-leading South Dakota by a score of 77-73 in a thrilling contest Saturday afternoon at the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center. The Cougars dropped to 8-21 (3-8) with the loss, while the Coyotes improved to 17-9 (8-1).
Senior Tyler Cain scored seven points as part of a game-opening 19-6 run by the visitors that lasted 9:14 that ended with a jumper by junior Mitchell Bouie at the 10:46 mark. CSU came back with a 14-4 scoring drive over a five-plus minute span with Wall scoring nine points to bring the home team within 23-20 with 5:40 remaining in the half. The Coyotes finished the half with an 18-8 run in the final five minutes behind eight points from Bouie to head into intermission with a 41-30 advantage.
USD kicked off the second half with a 17-10 scoring drive in 6:14 to increase its leading margin to 58-40 that ended with a Cain layup at the 13:46 mark. The Cougars stormed back with a 33-17 scoring run in 13 minutes behind 15 points from junior Antonio Lofton (Chicago, IL/Parkland College) (Chicago, Ill.) and included a 10-1 run in the final three minutes to close within 75-73 after junior Carl Montgomery (Chicago, IL/Shepard) (Chicago, Ill.) connected on a pair of free throws with 44 seconds left in the game.
CSU forced the Coyotes to miss a shot with six seconds remaining, but Cain grabbed an offensive rebound and freshman Jake Thomas nailed a pair of free throws with four seconds left to seal the game.
“Our slow start really hurt us today against a team that is first in the league that is experienced and well coached like South Dakota. We can't start off as slow as we did,” said CSU head coach Benjy Taylor. ”We look forward to playing on Wednesday, finishing the season strong with NJIT and going to the conference tournament.”
Wall also added a pair of game high totals of six assists and four steals for CSU. Montgomery recorded a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds with two blocks, while Lofton added 15 points. Sophomore Kabangu Tshinga Kasamba (St. Catherine's, ONT/St. Francis) (St. Catherine's, Ont.) posted 11 points, eight boards and four steals.
Senior Roman Gentry led four South Dakota players in double figures with 20 points. Cain recorded a double-double of 19 points and 13 boards, while Bouie tallied 16 points and eight rebounds. Thomas rounded out the quartet with 14 points that included going 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
CSU is back in action this Wednesday as it travels to Evanston, Ill., to face Big Ten Conference foe Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena in its non-conference finale with a start time of 7 p.m.
~CSU~
