Editor's Note: Throughout the 2012-13 athletics season, Jackrabbit Athletics will spotlight 40 of the top moments in the 40-year history of Frost Arena. This week's segment focuses on the 1996 men's basketball game between South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: SOUTH
DAKOTA STATE 82, SOUTH DAKOTA 62
The South Dakota State men's basketball team moved one step
closer to a North Central Conference title, turning in a dominant performance
on the boards in defeating in-state rival South Dakota, 82-62, before a packed
house of 8,602 at Frost Arena on Feb. 16, 1996.
In sweeping the season series from USD, the Jackrabbits improved to 20-3 overall and 12-2 in NCC play. USD dropped to 16-6 overall, 8-5 in league play.
Trailing 11-6 after the first five minutes, SDSU gained control with an 11-0 run. Jason Schuetz started the outburst with a putback basket, followed by a three-pointer and layup by Jason Sempsrott. The Jackrabbits put together a 16-2 run later in the half en reroute to a 37-21 halftime advanatage.
USD trimmed the margin to seven points, 50-43, seven minutes into the second half, but the Jackrabbits, who shot better than 50 percent in each half, put the game out of reach with an 8-0 run.
All five Jackrabbit starters scored in double figures, lead by Greg Himler with 17 points. Schuetz and Tom Rops each posted double-doubles with Schuetz tallying 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Rops notched 10 points and 19 rebounds.
As a team, the Jackrabbits held a 55-19 advantage on the boards, including a 30-11 margin in the first half.
Sempsrott and backcourt mate Jermaine Showers scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Kurt Meiser added 12 points off the bench.
SDSU ended the night 33-of-57 from the field, 57.8 percent, but was only 3-of-11 from three-point range. At the line, the Jackrabbits made 13-of-18 attempts, 72.2 percent.
The Coyotes, who committed only three turnovers in the game, finished the contest 23-of-64 from the field, 35.9 percent. USD was 4-for-18 from three-point range and 12-of-18 at the line.
John Hemenway led USD with 20 points and five steals.
