Top-seeded South Dakota State saw its comeback efforts fall just short Saturday at the Summit League Championships, falling 79-76 to No. 8 seed Western Illinois at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
David Jenkins hit a deep second-chance 3-pointer with 14 seconds to cut the WIU lead to one, 77-76, but that was as close as SDSU came as the Leathernecks used free throws and got one final defensive stop to escape with the upset.
Jenkins finished with a team-high 29 points, scoring 24 in the final period, including 14 in the final four minutes, to lead the second-half surge.
Mike Daum tacked on 16 for the Jackrabbits and pulled down 11 boards for his 53rd career double-double.
The Jackrabbits’ Summit League Championships run comes to an end, but as the regular season league champions SDSU earned an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
