.Tyler Nelson scored 24 points and Mike Kirkland had 20 points in leading Fairfield to an 80-72, overtime victory against South Dakota Sunday on the third and final day of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
South Dakota (0-5) scored the final 11 points of regulation to tie the game at 68-68 and force overtime. Tyler Larson scored a career-high 23 points and had 12 rebounds in recording his second double-double of the tournament. His layup with 40 seconds left in the second half completed the comeback.
Nelson and Kirkland had combined to total 32 points through four games for the Stags (2-3), which ended a three-game skid. Against the Coyotes, Nelson was 8 for 11 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range. Kirkland made 10 of 12 free throws to go with five buckets. He also had eight rebounds and six assists.
Coyote guard Brandon Bos scored 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting. It was his second 20-point effort in three games at the Classic. South Dakota shot 44 percent from the floor and was 4 of 12 from three-point range. The Coyotes were outscored at the free-throw line 25-12.
In three days in Bridgeport, the Coyotes lost one game in overtime, one game in triple overtime and the other by four points. South Dakota returns home to host Wayne State (Neb.) Wednesday in the DakotaDome. It will be the first home game for first-year head coach Craig Smith.
