South Dakota senior guard Casey Kasperbauer scored a game-high 26 points including 15 during a 29-5 run that turned the tide in the Coyotes’ 76-67 win against Western Illinois Wednesday inside the DakotaDome.
The win stopped a three-game skid for South Dakota (10-10, 2-4 Summit). Western Illinois (7-10, 0-6) has lost eight in a row. The Coyotes have won the last four meetings in the series.
Kasperbauer’s 26 tied the second-best performance of his career. He made 6 of 7 shots in a nine-minute span in the second half that helped South Dakota turn a 47-37 deficit into a 66-52 lead with 8:39 left to play. Four of his makes were 3’s. Most were closely contested.
Kasperbauer had 17 in the second half to help USD rebound from a 37-32 halftime deficit. He finished 9 of 16 from the field including a 6 of 8 effort from beyond the arc. It’s the sixth time in his career he has made at least six 3-pointers.
South Dakota guard Tre Burnette registered his fourth double-double this season and ninth in 53 games as a Coyote. Burnette had 14 points and 13 rebounds. D.J. Davis added 13 points, five rebounds and three steals.
