The South Dakota State men’s basketball team staged a brilliant comeback, but saw its 2018-19 season come to an end Tuesday in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, falling 79-73 to Texas.
The Jackrabbits conclude the year at 24-9 while saying goodbye to three seniors: Mike Daum, Skyler Flatten and Tevin King.
The first half was full of momentum swings, as the Longhorns started fast towards a 19-0 lead while scoring on seven of their first eight possessions.
The Jackrabbits went to the locker room, down 43-35. Texas again started fast in the second, building a 13-point lead out of the break, but the Jackrabbits kept coming.
SDSU crawled within two (59-57) at 13:01, and a David Jenkins jumper at 8:32 put them in front, 65-64 before a two-handed, breakaway slam moments later gave State a 67-64 advantage.
UT answered with six straight to go back in front, and though SDSU kept it a one-possession game until the final minute of action, the Jackrabbits could not complete the rally.
Daum led the Jackrabbits with 25 points and 11 rebounds for his 54th career double-double, rising to No. 7 on the NCAA’s all-time scoring list in the game. He concludes his career with 3,067 points.
