SIOUX FALLS -- South Dakota State defended its turf.
The SDSU men's basketball team won the Summit League Tournament for the second year in a row and will return to the NCAA Division I Tournament. The Jacks (24-9) will find out who they will play Sunday night during the selection show at 5 p.m. on CBS when the 68-team tourney is paired up.
SDSU won the Summit League title by defeating North Dakota State 73-67 Tuesday night in front of a full house of 6,544 at the Sioux Falls Arena and in front of a national audience on ESPN2. The tourney broke a record with more than 45,000 fans attending the four-day event, which featured the SDSU women winning the Summit League title earlier in the day.
South Dakota State was led by senior standout Nate Wolters, who had 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Jordan Dykstra added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Jacks.
North Dakota State put up a fight throughout the entire game. The Bison kept within striking distance, but could not overcome the Jacks. Every time the Bison got close, SDSU seemed to come up with a big play, especially Wolters and Dykstra.
NDSU (24-8) was led by Taylor Braun, who had 23 points and five rebounds.
SDSU led 29-25 at halftime and built a double-digit lead over the Bison in the second half. But the Bison got to within two points with under seven minutes left in the game. That is when Wolters hit a long three just before time ran out on the shot clock to put SDSU on top by five.
Even in the closing minute, the NDSU defense was giving SDSU fits. The Jacks were having trouble getting the ball inbounds. But SDSU hit just enough free throws to keep surging NDSU in check.
SDSU also got 12 points from Tony Fiegen and nine from Brayden Carlson. The other SDSU starter, Chad White, scored four. White's younger brother, Mitch, is a starter for Northern State.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE (24-8): TrayVonn Wright 3-9 2-2 9, Marshall Bjorklund 4-5 0-0 8, Lawrence Alexander 1-7 4-4 7, Kory Brown 3-4 0-0 6, Taylor Braun 9-18 4-4 23, Mike Felt 3-8 0-0 9, Nate Zastrow 1-1 0-0 3, Brett VandenBergh 0-1 0-0 0, Chris Kading 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-54 10-10 67.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (24-9): Tony Fiegen 5-11 2-2 12, Jordan Dykstra 5-9 7-7 18, Nate Wolters 8-15 9-10 27, Brayden Carlson 3-5 0-0 9, Chad White 2-6 0-0 4, Jake Bittle 0-0 1-2 1, Marcus Heemstra 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 23-48 21-23 73.
Halftime score-- SDSU 29-25. 3-point field goals-- NDSU 7-20 (Wright 1-4, Alexander 1-3, Braun 1-5, Felt 3-6, Zastrow 1-1, VandenBergh 0-1); SDSU 6-16 (Dykstra 1-4, Wolters 2-6, Carlson 3-3, White 0-3). Total fouls-- NDSU 19; SDSU 11. Fouled out-- NDSU, Bjorklund. Rebounds-- NDSU 26 (Wright 8); SDSU 29 (Dykstra 7). Assists-- NDSU 9 (Alexander 4); SDSU 12 (Wolters 6). Blocks-- NDSU 3 (Wright 3); SDSU 1 (Heemstra 1). Steals-- NDSU 7 (Wright 2, Brown 2); SDSU 6 (Wolters 4). Turnovers-- NDSU 10; SDSU 7. Officials-- Terry Wayne, Bo Boroski, Lamont Simpson. Attendance-- 6,544.