Box Score KANSAS CITY, MO. – With a career-high 22 points from Austin Slater and Teathloach Pal's sixth career double (13 points, 13 rebounds), the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team successfully opened the season with a dramatic 64-63 come-from-behind win over Lincoln University in nonconference play at the Central Region Challenge at the Municipal Auditorium.

The Cougars, which will play Pittsburg State at 4:30 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 9, trailed by 10 points in the first half (16-6, 9:54, 1^st half), but rallied to within a point at halftime (29-28) and then outscored LU, 36-34, in the second half to record the win. USF, which led 62-57 with 1:50 to play, received a pair of free throws from Slater with under five seconds to play to ice the game (64-60). Bansi King of Lincoln hit a three-pointer with a second left to draw the Blue Tigers within one.

"I am real proud how we fought through adversity," said USF Head Coach Chris Johnson. "We battled on the boards and with an athletic team all night. But we showed grit and determination and Tess (Teathloach Pal) and Austin (Slater) had big nights to lead the way. That is the best game Austin has ever played for us. We had a lot of contributions from a lot of different guys," he said.

Slater, a junior forward who made a career-best 16-of-20 free throws, hit 3-of-5 field goals and grabbed eight rebounds with three assists and a steal in 29 minutes. In his 32 minutes on the floor, junior forward Teathloach Pal had 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and 5-of-6 at the foul line while grabbing 13 rebounds for his fifth career double double. In addition, Pal had two assists, two blocks and a steal. Sophomore guard Chase Grinde added eight points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals before fouling out. Freshman guard Jack Thompson, who gave USF its first second half lead with a three-ball, added eight points on 3-of-3 shooting from the floor. Thompson knocked down both of his three-point field goals.

USF hit 18-of-48 field goals for 37.5 percent but converted 10-of-24 in the second half for 41.7 percent. The Cougars struggled from three-point range on 4-of-21 shooting for 19 percent. However, the Cougars had a solid performance at the foul line by hitting 24-of-31 for 77.4 percent.

One of the nation's top rebounding units a year ago, USF outboarded Lincoln, 38-37. While USF committed 14 turnovers, they forced 13 by Lincoln and held the Blue Tigers to 32.1 percent shooting (18-of-56) from the floor. LU was just 8-of-29 for 27.6 percent in the second half when USF's defense came through. At the three-point line, LU was 8-of-27 for 29.6 percent and 19-of-24 at the foul line for 79.2 percent. LU was led offensively by Jonell Burton with 16 points.

Game Recap -
After falling behind 16-6 at near the 10 minute mark (9:54) of the first half, the Cougars closed the half on a 22-13 run and trailed just 29-28 at halftime. Trevon Adams, who finished with five points, hit a three pointer with one second left in the half to draw the Cougars close. It was a big three and came after the Cougars missed their first 10 long balls of the half.

In the second half, LU again built a lead up to seven points before the Cougars rebounded and took their first lead with under seven minutes to play when Thompson knocked in a three ball for a 50-49 edge (6:41). However LU rebounded to take a 55-50 lead with 5:33 to play in the half. However, Slater continued to make his presence known and a pair of foul shots and a lay-up enabled USF to pull with 55-54 with 4:32 to play in the second half. Then Slater hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game at 55-55 with 4:32 to play.

After LU missed a three pointer, Grinde came through for USF with a three-ball and a 58-55 lead with 4:04 to play. USF never trailed again and built a 62-57 lead with 1:50 to play. LU cut the lead to 62-60 before Slater's foul shots iced the game in the final seconds.