KANSAS CITY, MO. – Despite
Teathloach Pal's seventh career double double (12 points, 17 rebounds), the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (1-1) dropped a 62-55 nonconference decision to Pittsburg State (1-1) at the Central Region Challenge at Municipal Auditorium.
Pal scored 12 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. A junior forward, Pal has opened the 2019-20 season with back-to-back double doubles and has seven in his career. USF was led in scoring for a second straight night by junior forward
Austin Slater, who had 14 points and five rebounds before fouling out. He hit 4-of-6 field goals and 2-of-3 from three-point range. Sophomore guard
Chase Grinde supplied 12 points and five rebounds while senior
Devin Green had 10 points and three rebounds.
For the second straight night, USF had a rebounding advantage as they had 36 boards to 32 for Pitt State. USF made 20-of-51 field goals for 39.2 percent but converted just 4-of-17 shots from three-point range for 23.5 percent. That proved to be a big difference as Pitt State knocked in 10-of-23 for 43.5 percent from three-point range. In that three-point breakdown, they were 7-of-15 for 47 percent in the second half. Overall PSU was 20-of-52 for 38.5 percent and 12-of-17 at the foul line. The Cougars, which trailed by eight points with 8:22 to play, made 11-of-17 free throws for 64.7 percent.
USF held a 27-22 lead at halftime and led by as many as 13 points (20-7, 7:15; 22-9, 6:38, 1
st half) in the opening half. However, Pitt State outscored USF, 40-28 in the second half to grab a 62-55 win in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
PSU opened the second half on fire and erased USF's five-point lead. They hit three-straight three pointers for a 39-37 lead with 11:32 to play. Then, the Gorillas strung together an 8-2 run for a 45-37 lead at the 8:22 mark.
After trailing PSU 53-45 with 5:31 to play, the Cougars made a run and cut the deficit to 53-51 with three minutes left after Grinde converted two foul shots as part of a 6-0 run. At the 1:51 mark,
Troy Houghton, who had five points, converted a layup as USF trailed just 54-53. But PSU closed on an 8-2 run, as they made six free throws to stop USF's rally.
The Cougars will host Dakota State in their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Stewart Center. Tipoff for USF-DSU will be 7 pm.
