Casey Kasperbauer scored a career-high 31 points and D.J. Davis scored six points in the final 20 seconds of overtime to lead South Dakota to an 89-81 win against Florida Gulf Coast Monday at the Sanford Pentagon.
It was the third overtime win in seven games for the Coyotes (8-6), which ended a two-game skid and finished its most grueling road trip of the season with a 2-2 record. South Dakota begins Summit League play at 2:30 p.m. Friday against IUPUI.
Florida Gulf Coast (6-7) got a career-high 25 points from guard Christian Terrell, but lost its third straight. Marc-Eddy Norelia recorded 20 points and 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. He also had five of the Eagles’ 10 blocks.
Kasperbauer tied his career high of seven 3-pointers against the nation’s top defense against the long ball. Eagles’ opponents had made 24 percent of their attempts entering play Monday. Kasperbauer made his first three to push USD to a 9-1 lead. He had five triples before the midway point of the first half.
South Dakota built a 35-22 halftime lead behind 19 points from Kasperbauer. The Eagles used a 20-5 run during a five-minute stretch to take its first lead of the second half at 53-52 with eight minutes left in regulation. Terrell scored 11 points during the rally and the Eagles used a full-court press to help force five turnovers.
