South Dakota absolutely laid down the law on Monday night, kicking off their season with a dominant 95-57 victory over Mount Marty. That 38-point differential isn’t just a number, it’s a cold, hard statement about what the Coyotes are bringing this year. They are 1-0 and looked hungry.
The Coyotes Just Went Off on Offense
Forget a slow start, South Dakota came out firing, putting up 95 points in their season opener. It wasn’t just one guy, either, it was a whole crew. Jahni Summers was lighting it up, dropping 17 points on a super-efficient 5-of-8 from the field. He even knocked down 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and was perfect from the free-throw line, going 5-for-5. That’s serious efficiency.
But Summers wasn’t alone. Vince Buzelis added 14 points himself, shooting 4-of-5 from the field and 6-of-8 from the line, and pulled down seven rebounds while dishing out six assists. That’s an all-around performance right there. And then Kajus Kublickas chipped in another 14 points, hitting 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point land. When three different guys are putting up 14-plus points on that kind of shooting, what are you even supposed to do?
Mount Marty’s Struggles, Despite One Spark
On the other side, Mount Marty just couldn’t keep pace with the Coyotes’ offensive barrage. Scoring only 57 points in a game where your opponent drops 95? That’s a rough night. The Lancers did have one bright spot, though. Mande Wanlemvo battled hard, leading his team in scoring with 17 points. It’s tough when your leading scorer matches your opponent’s second or third option and your team still loses by nearly 40.
South Dakota is definitely showing everyone what they’re capable of right out of the gate, and Mount Marty has some serious regrouping to do.
South Dakota will look to keep that momentum rolling when they face Northern Kentucky at home on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mount Marty has to pick themselves up fast, with a trip to Omaha slated for Tuesday. Can the Coyotes sustain this kind of offensive firepower, or will the Lancers find some answers on defense? We’ll find out soon enough.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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