EMPORIA, Kan. – Led by career-best performances from juniors Trevon Evans and Drew Guebert, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (2-0) recorded a thrilling 96-92 overtime victory over Fort Hays State (1-1) in the MIAA-NSIC Challenge at Slaymaker Court on Saturday night.
USF has opened 2-0 for the first time since 2012-13 when they ran off four straight wins to open the season. The Cougars, which won in overtime for the second straight night (94-89 over Emporia State, Nov. 10), rallied from a 16-point first half (34-18, 6:19, 1st half) to trail just 42-38 at halftime. In the second stanza and overtime, USF outscored the Tigers, 58-50, to claim the win. After losing to FHSU two straight years in the final seconds (62-60, 2015-16; 80-78, 2016-17), the Cougars had the answer in 2017-18.
The Cougars scored 90 points or more in consecutive games for the first time since NSIC wins over Minnesota Duluth, 95-73, and over St .Cloud State, 98-80, on Jan. 29-30, 2016. It is also the first time USF has played and won back-to-back overtime games in the DII era.
"We dug ourselves a 16-point hole in the first half but really grinded our way to end and half and cut the deficit to just four (42-38)," said USF Head Men's Basketball Coach
Chris Johnson, who now has 174 career wins, including 158 at USF. "It was a really good basketball game. We were fortunate to have Drew (Guebert) and Trevon (Evans) carry us offensively with some help from freshman Drew Maschoff. I am really proud of our effort this weekend," he said.
Guebert set a career-high with 32 points while grabbing eight rebounds in four minutes of action. Guebert, who set his career-high a year ago with 30 against Emporia State at the Stewart Center in the season opener, made 12-of-21 field goals, including 4-of-11 from three point range.
Meanwhile Evans had a big night for the second straight night. After scoring 28 points in the win over Emporia State on Friday, Evans had his first career double with 31 points and 12 rebounds in the victory over FHSU. He hit 10-of-20 field goals, including 3-of-6 from three point range. Evans knocked in 8-of-9 free throws while hauling down a game-high 12 boards in 42 minutes of action. Freshman guard Drew Maschoff also had a career-best night with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-3 from three-point range. Also for the Cougars, senior guard Zach Wessels contributed six points and four assists while Jerrod Walton had six points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Overall, the Cougars had another solid shooting night by hitting 31-of-62 field goals for 50 percent, including 10-of-25 from three point range (40 percent). USF also made 24-of-31 shots from the foul line for 75 percent. Meanwhile, FHSU, which was led by 30 points from Brady Werth, hit 28-of-60 field goals for 46.7 percent. They were 7-of-23 from three-point range and 29-of-33 from the free throw line for 88 percent.
For the second straight night, rebounding played a role for USF, which out boarded FHSU, 36-27, including 7-to-3 on the offensive glass.
Game Breakdown
The Tigers opened up a quick advantage, rushing to a 10-4 advantage after a jumper by Brady Werth. USF struggled offensively in the opening 10 minutes, scoring just nine points in that span. As a result, FHSU took a 19-9 lead on a lay-up by Hadley Gillum, who had 15 points on the night. At the 7:35 mark, the Tigers led, 29-15, after KeShawn Wilson knocked down a three-pointer. FHSU's lead drew to 34-18 at the 6:19 mark when Gillum converted a shot inside.
Evans and Guebert helped bring USF back into the game. With a 9-0 run, including threes by both Evans and Guebert, the Cougars crawled within 34-27 at the 3:58 mark. After Werth's basket gave FHSU a 42-32 lead (2:28), USF closed the half with a 6-0 run, including a pair of free throws from Walton with a second left in the half.
The Cougars eventually tied the game at 50 when Evans made a lay-up with 17:38 to go. Lay-ups from Evans and Guebert, a three from Maschoff and a Guebert tip-in keyed a 24-12 run to open the second half and give USF a 62-54 advantage at the 13:59 mark.
FHSU rallied with a 13-4 run to take a 67-66 lead with 8:45 on the clock when Trey O'Neill hit a pair of charity tosses. The two teams exchange leads twice before Maschoff's lay-up tied the game at 73 with 5:06 to play. The Tigers had a 7-1 run, including a three from Aaron Nicholson, for an 80-74 lead with 2:47 to play.
The Cougars had an answer with a 7-0 run for an 81-80 edge on two foul shots by Walton at the 1:17 mark. Two foul shots from Evans gave the Cougars an 85-82 advantage with 25 seconds to play. Then, FHSU rallied with a 5-2 run in the closing seconds with Kyler Kinnamon's two foul shots with two seconds left sending the game to overtime.
Overtime provided the same back and forth as regulation. Guebert gave USF an 89-87 lead (3:33) before Nicholson hit another three to provide FHSU with a 92-91 lead with 1:07 on the clock. From that point, USF held FHSU scoreless while Guebert hit the go-ahead shot and Evans knocked in three free throws, including the clinching charity toss with seven seconds to play.
Next for USF will be the home opener against Wisconsin-Superior on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Stewart Center. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the men's game set to go at 8 p.m., following the USF Women's Basketbal game with Presentation at 6 p.m.
