Match Recap:
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In the first home game of the 2024-25 season, the Sioux Falls Men's Basketball team came away with a 80-69 victory of the University of Jamestown. Taylen Ashley, Kyle Ingwerson, and Noah Puetz all put up 15 points for the Cougars, and Creighton Morisch added a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
1st Half
The Jimmies started hot, draining three-pointers on their first two possessions to jump ahead 6-0. Kyle Ingwerson responded for the Cougars, sinking a three-pointer off a Creighton Morisch assist to open the scoring. Ingwerson followed up with a layup, as did Noah Puetz, while Taylen Ashley added another basket during a 9-0 Cougar run to take a 9-6 lead. Puetz added another score at the rim and converted a free throw moments later. Shawn Warrior attacked the rim and finished strong to push the Cougars ahead 14-11. Jamestown answered on their next possession, leaving Sioux Falls with a slim 14-13 edge at the first media timeout.
Jamestown scored immediately after the break, but layups by Josh Baker, Brandon Hrncir, and Kenji Scales gave the Cougars a 20-15 advantage. The Jimmies responded with back-to-back triples to reclaim the lead at 20-21. Ashley countered with a three-pointer of his own from a Jack Cartwright pass and followed it up with a layup assisted by Puetz.
Coming out of the next timeout, Cartwright found himself wide open under the basket and finished easily off a Morisch assist. Jamestown stayed within striking distance thanks to free throws, but Morisch extended the Cougar lead with an and-one, converting the free throw to make it 30-24. Puetz and Ashley added mid-range jumpers, and Ingwerson knocked down another shot to push the advantage to 36-24. A Warrior free throw and an Ashley layup helped the Cougars maintain control, heading into the final break up of the first half 39-28.
Jamestown cut the lead to single digits with a pair of free throws, but Scales buried a deep three off a Jacoby Mehrman assist to extend the margin. Baker and Morisch knocked down jumpers, stretching the lead to 46-30. However, the Jimmies ended the half on a 7-0 run to narrow the gap to 46-37 at halftime.
The Cougars were strong from the field in the first half, capitalizing on 58.8% of their field goals, including 42% from 3-point range. Jamestown kept it close thanks to their work getting to the free throw line, outscoring the Cougars 12-3 in that category.
2nd Half
Jamestown quickly chipped away at the Cougar lead, but Noah Puetz answered with another layup, and Creighton Morisch added two free throws to keep the Jimmies at bay. However, Jamestown's resilience showed as they hit a three-pointer to close the gap to 50-44 heading into the first media timeout
The Cougars leaned on Taylen Ashley, who knocked down another jumper, while Shawn Warrior attacked the rim for a layup and added a free throw shortly after. Ashley stayed hot from mid-range, hitting another jumper to extend the lead to 57-45. Puetz contributed a free throw and a two-point basket, and Kyle Ingwerson connected from beyond the arc, sending Sioux Falls into the second media timeout with a 63-50 advantage.
Coming out of the break, the Cougars' offense slowed until Morisch sank two more free throws. Puetz followed with a three-pointer, giving Sioux Falls their largest lead of the night at 68-52. Jamestown responded with a physical finish at the rim and two free throws, trimming the margin to 68-56 by the final media timeout.
Morisch came out strong after the break, sinking additional free throws, while Ingwerson drained another three-pointer. Despite the Cougars holding a 73-60 lead late in the game, the Jimmies fought back, cutting it to 73-65 in a quick one-minute stretch. Sioux Falls, however, maintained their composure, taking care of the basketball and converting free throws to secure an 80-69 victory.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second half, but the Cougars' defensive adjustments proved decisive. They held Jamestown to just 1-of-15 shooting from three-point range and dominated the boards with a plus-13 rebound margin, limiting the Jimmies to one-and-done possessions.
Key Team Stats
Key Coo
Up Next
The Cougars will hop back on the road next weekend, traveling to Chadron, Nebraska to take on the Chadron State Eagles on Friday, November 22nd at 7pm. They follow that game up with another road contest in Spearfish, South Dakota, taking on the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets Saturday, November 23rd at 7pm.
For all things USF Men's Basketball, be sure to download the USF Cougars app as well as follow along on Instagram and Twitter!
