MARSHALL, MN -- Despite 21 points from Chase Grinde and double-doubles from both Teathloach Pal and Austin Slater, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (7-5, 5-5 NSIC) dropped a 76-69 overtime decision to the SMSU Mustangs (3-8, 1-6 NSIC), on Sunday. With the loss, USF's season ended with a 7-5 overall record and 5-5 record in the South.
 
Grinde had 21 points for the Cougars on Sunday, which was his 35th double-digit scoring game and his fifth game scoring 20 points or more. Grinde knocked down a career-high five three pointers and grabbed four rebounds. 
 
Senior Teathloach Pal added a double for USF -- the 17th of his career -- scoring 10 points and grabbing a career-best 19 rebounds. Pal finished his career with 35 games in double digits with 21 double-digit rebounding games. Pal also had two assists, one block, and one steal for the Cougars. 
 
Austin Slater, a senior forward, recorded his fifth career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Slater now has 15 double double scoring games and 11 double digit rebounding games. In his 37 minutes, Slater went 4-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-6 from the free throw line. 
 
Also for USF, freshman guard John Henry added a career-high eight points for USF, knocking down two three pointers and three shots from the floor. Henry also grabbed one rebound, one assist, and one steal in his 21 minutes on the court. Additionally, the Cougars had nine points, five rebounds and four assists from sophomore guard Jack Thompson.
 
USF Head Coach Chris Johnson was pleased with the work ethic of his team, who battled all weekend to try and advance to the NSIC Postseason Tourney. "We had some shots to finish the game off today but they didn't fall," said Johnson. "Give SMSU credit they came up with some plays down the stretch. But I am proud of our team. They have battled a tough situation all year with this pandemic and proved they are a team with mettle. I am just sorry that they don't get a chance to play in the tournament," he said.
 
Overall, the Cougars played hard but were outscored in the end from the floor and from the free throw line. USF shot 24-of-73 from the floor for 32.9 percent, while the Mustangs went 25-of-53 from the floor for 47.2 percent. From the foul line, the Cougars made 12-of-21 for 57.1 percent, but SMSU knocked down 22 of their 28 attempts for 78.6 percent.
 
For the second straight day, USF, the league's best rebounding team by margin, controlled the backboard to a tune of 54-33. However, despite the rebounding edge, SMSU had a 36-22 margin in paint points. Another key stat was SMSU's bench scoring which had a 41-to-11 margin over USF>
 
USF vs SMSU Breakdown 
 
USF opened up a 27-20 lead at halftime as both teams defended in the opening 20 minutes.  USF hit 9-of-30 field goals for 30 percent but made 5-of-13 from three and held the rebound advantage again. SMSU was 7-of-21 for 33.3 percent in the opening half but missed all seven of its three point shots.
 
USF jumped out to a 12-6 lead at the 14-minute mark as John Henry scored five points including a three-pointer. The Cougars opened by hitting 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from three.  Then Grinde hit his second three for a 15-9 lead at 12:04.  At the 9:33 mark Grinde, who scored 10 points in the first 10 minutes, hit a jumper as the Cougars took a 19-11 lead. With Grinde hitting another three – third of the half – USF took a 22-16 lead over SMSU. Then with 3:49 to play Henry knocked in his second triple as the Cougars led 27-18 at the 3:49 mark and took a 27-20 advantage to halftime. 
 
After the break, USF opened on a 15-13 edge at the 14-minute mark and held a 42-33 lead over SMSU following a Thompson jumper. At the 13:09 mark, Grinde hit his fourth three-pointer of the game as USF led SMSU, 45-35.  Later Grinde hit another basket as USF built a 51-36 lead with 10 minutes to play. 
 
The Mustangs answered with seven straight points, including a three from Sam Schwartz to cut the deficit to 51-43 at the 8:26 mark. USF's Troy Houghton ended the run with 1-of-2 free throws for a 52-43 USF lead with 8:09 to play. Then SMSU's Nick Default, who scored 12 points, hit a jumper and was fouled as SMSU drew within 52-46 with 6:40 to play. Clint McCray added two foul shots as SMSU drew within 52-48 with six minutes to play.
 
SMSU kept coming at USF and Jake Phipps, who had a career-high 22 points made a lay-up to cut the lead to 52-50 at the 5:38 mark.  However, USF responded with five straight points, including a three from Thompson at the 4:34 mark. With 2:55 left, Houghton's lay-up helped USF take a 59-55 lead. After SMSU cut the lead to 62-61 with 1:26 to play, USF had a pair of free throws from Pal for a 64-61 lead. After Evans was fouled and made the first, his second free throw came off the rim long and the ball was awarded to SMSU with 1.2 seconds to play. Then, Phipps caught a pass four feet from the basket and converted to force overtime. 
 
SMSU opened the overtime with six straight points for a 70-64 lead. USF battled back as Pal hit a pair of foul shots and Houghton converted a lay-up as USF cut the lead to 70-68. When Slater hit a free throw, USF was down just a point. When Slater hit a free throw, USF was down just a point. But with 1:18 to play, SMSU had an answer as Kaden Evans, who scored 18 points, hit a three and was fouled. With the four-point play, USF trailed, 74-69 and was unable to score the rest of the way in a heart-breaking setback which ended their season.