ST. PAUL –  Chase Grinde had 20 points and Jack Thompson added a career-best 14 points as the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (6-2, 2-0 NSIC) took a 78-71 road win over Concordia St. Paul (2-3, 0-1 NSIC) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action at the Gangelhoff Center.

Grinde, who has two straight double digit scoring games (19, 20) in NSIC play, scored 20 points for the second time in his career. He hit 8-of-9 field goals, including his only three-point shot, and added four rebounds, an assist, block and steal. Thompson also reached double digits and established a career high for a second straight game as he was 4-of-9 from the field and made a personal-best four three-pointers in seven attempts while grabbing four rebounds, dishing six dimes, recording two steals and turning the ball over just one once in 28 minutes on the floor.

In all, USF had five players score in double digits with junior forward Teathloach Pal recording his fourth double double (ninth of his career) with 12 points and 13 rebounds while blocking two shots and handing out a pair of assists. Both junior Austin Slater and sophomore Troy Houghton had 10 points with Slater also adding six rebounds.

After taking a 36-34 halftime lead, the Cougars outscored CSU, 42-37 in the second half in the 78-71 verdict. The Cougars, which trailed by as many as six points in the first half (20-14, 9:44, 1st), built as large as a 17-point lead in the second 20 minutes (67-50, 8:10, 2nd).

"I thought we really played well on both ends," said USF Head Coach Chris Johnson, who earned his 201st career win at USF and 217th overall. "The guys really rebounded it well in the second half and you have to appreciate that we shared it really well with the 16 assists. Chase (Grinde), Troy (Houghton), Teathloach (Pal) and Jack (Thompson) were good tonight and it was a great team win," added Johnson, whose team will face Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn., at 5:30 p.m., Saturday at the Taylor Center.

USF, which had a 41-35 rebound edge, hit a season-best 52.7 percent from the field on 29-of-55 shooting which included 7-of-19 from three-point range for 36.8 percent. USF tied for the second highest total of three-pointers this season. However, USF made just 13-of-25 free throws for 52 percent. One of the team's highlights was the 16 assists on 29 made baskets as eight players had at least one assist.

While USF had one of its best offensive outputs this season, they held the home-standing Golden Bears to 36.9 percent shooting (24-of-65) which included 10-of-33 from three points range. CSP was led by Jordan Coblin with 21 points and seven rebounds while Noah Kannegiesser added 16 points.

Game Recap –
CSP opened up a 10-8 lead over USF at the 16:25 mark when Jacob Shields hit a jumper. CSP, which hit 13-of-35 shots from the field for 37.1 percent and knocked in four threes in the half, outscored USF 8-0 midway through the first half for a 20-14 lead with 9:44 to go with a three-point play by Kannegiesser.

USF, which was 14-of-29 from the field for 48.3 percent in the first half, had a 6-0 run to tie the game when Houghton hit a jumper in the paint. Coblin converted a three for CSP which was answered by one by Slater for a 23-23 tie at the 7:19 mark. After falling down by three-points at 32-29, Will Lybaek, who had seven points and four rebounds, hit a three at the 2:38 mark to tie the game at 32. In the final minute, Houghton's dunk gave USF a 36-34 halftime lead.

While USF had a solid shooting first half, they upped their game in the second half. USF shot a sizzling 57.7 percent from the field on 15-of-26 shooting. USF's hot-shooting featured 5-of-10 made threes, which included all four of Thompson's three-pointers.

With the game tied at 40, the Cougars took off on a 13-0 run with four points from Grinde and a pair of threes by Thompson for a 53-40 lead at the 14:59 mark. Another three by Thompson helped USF to a 64-48 lead with 9:40 to go.

A little while later Pal's dunk and a free throw from Grinde provided USF with a 67-50 and 8:10 to play. After that CSP cut the lead to 11 at 70-59 on a three from George Scharlau with 6:36 to go.  Neither team scored for 3:25 until a free throw from Cody Carlson of CSP and Grinde's jumper in the paint for a 72-60 lead. Despite USF struggling from the foul line, CSP could draw only within seven points twice (76-69, :40, 2nd; and 78-71, :27) over the final six minutes.