Despite a third consecutive 20 point performance by senior forward Skyler Bloch, the University of Sioux Falls could not overcome a four point halftime deficit, which Dakota State University turned into a big 66-56 win Saturday night in Madison, S.D. The loss snapped USF's nine game win streak and puts them at 12-8 on the year, while DSU moves to 15-9.

Saturday had the making of a trap game from the beginning. The Trojans entered the contest on a four game win streak, with all four wins coming at home and a nasty taste in their mouth from their last meeting with the Cougars just 18 days ago, when USF hammered DSU for a 83-57 win at home.

It was a different story today. USF trailed 14-11 following two free throws from James Rader with 9:24 to play in the first half. However, that is when DSU would go on a 7-0 run and stretch their lead to 10 points with just under seven minutes to play.

USF head coach, Chris Johnson wisely took a timeout and made the appropriate substitutions. His team responded and the Cougars recorded a 9-2 run of their own, cutting their deficit back to three with two minutes to play.

With 20 minutes in the books, USF found themselves trailing 28-24. Today marks just the second halftime deficit the Cougars have faced in their last 13 contests.

A big part of that was poor shooting. USF shot 26% (7-27) from the floor and 12.5% (1-8) behind the arc, while DSU connected at a 55% (11-20) rate from the field, and 43% (3-7) from deep in the first half. The only decent shooting by the Cougars came at the free throw line, where they were 9-10 before the break.

The Cougars quickly cut DSU's lead to one in the opening minutes of the second half and the game would stay that close throughout majority of the remaining minutes. The Trojans maintained a one to four point buffer through the first 13 minutes of the second half.

David Maxwell found Keith Cutler for a huge three to make it 47-45, DSU, with just under five minutes to play, but that is as close as USF would come to the Trojans as they made free throws late to pick up their fifth consecutive win.

The story of the night was dismal shooting by USF. The Trojans outshot the Cougars, 44%-30%, their second worst shooting performance this season.

It was all Adam Spencer for the Trojans. He finished 7-12 from the field and 4-6 from deep to total 24 points and seven rebounds. Donald Stewart was DSU's second player in double figures. He went 7-9 at the charity stripe and 4-7 from the floor to tally 15 points.

Bloch recorded his third double-double this season to lead USF with 24 points and 10 rebounds. He was perfect (8-8) at the line and accounted for eight of the Cougars' 17 field goals. Maxwell posted the next highest total for USF. He shot 3-7 from the floor to record nine points. He also added four rebounds.   

USF continues its in-state road stint with games against South Dakota School of Mines Friday and Black Hills State Saturday.