KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball team earned its first victory of the 2026–27 season Saturday afternoon, defeating Missouri S&T 70–67 in overtime at Municipal Auditorium to close out the NSIC-MIAA Challenge. After battling through a tightly contested regulation that ended tied at 61, the Cougars outscored the Miners 9–6 in the extra period to secure the neutral-site victory.
Taylen Ashley led Sioux Falls with 18 points, while
Kyle Ingwerson added 16 and
Gerard Bosch contributed 10 points and seven rebounds as USF improved to 1–2 on the season.
Game Summary
Sioux Falls delivered an efficient offensive performance, shooting 55.1 percent (27-of-49) from the field while holding Missouri S&T to 40 percent (26-of-65). Ashley paced the Cougars with 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including two three-pointers, while Ingwerson finished with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting and played 44 minutes. Bosch provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting while collecting seven rebounds, two steals and a block. Alex Mattes added eight points, while Jacoby Mehrman contributed seven points and a team-high six assists.
The Cougars held a 34–32 advantage in points in the paint and received 31 points from their bench compared to 16 for the Miners. Missouri S&T controlled the rebounding battle 35–30, including 16 offensive boards that produced 12 second-chance points. However, Sioux Falls made the most of its scoring opportunities, recording 15 assists on 27 made field goals and converting 15 Miner turnovers into 16 points. The contest featured 12 ties and six lead changes, with neither side able to establish a lasting advantage before overtime.
How It Happened
First Half
The opening 20 minutes featured a defensive battle, with neither team able to gain significant separation. Sioux Falls shot an efficient 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from the field and connected on 4-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc, while Missouri S&T was limited to 38.5 percent (10-of-26) shooting. The Cougars moved the ball effectively but struggled with turnovers, committing 11 in the opening half.
Missouri S&T capitalized on those opportunities, scoring eight points off turnovers while knocking down four three-pointers of its own. The Miners held a narrow 14–12 rebounding advantage, but Sioux Falls remained within striking distance throughout the half. Both teams entered the locker room tied at 27–27.
Second Half
The Cougars increased their offensive production after halftime, scoring 34 points on 52 percent (13-of-25) shooting. Sioux Falls found success attacking the interior, recording 16 points in the paint while receiving 20 points from its bench. Missouri S&T responded with 34 points of its own, shooting 44.8 percent (13-of-29) and using seven offensive rebounds to create additional scoring opportunities.
With the game tied in the closing minute, Ashley delivered a crucial layup with 41 seconds remaining to even the score at 61–61. Missouri S&T missed a layup on its ensuing possession, giving Sioux Falls an opportunity to win in regulation. Ashley's three-point attempt in the final seconds was off the mark, sending the contest into overtime.
Overtime
Sioux Falls made the most of its opportunities in the extra period, shooting 4-of-6 (66.7%) from the field while holding Missouri S&T to 3-of-10 (30%). The Cougars relied on their interior offense, scoring eight of their nine overtime points in the paint while continuing to battle through a physical final five minutes.
After Missouri S&T pulled within 68–67 with five seconds remaining, Mehrman found Bosch for a dunk with one second left, extending the Cougars' advantage to three. The Miners' final three-point attempt missed at the buzzer, sealing Sioux Falls' 70–67 victory and its first win of the season.
Coach's Corner
"Really proud of the guys today. They showed great grit in a tough, physical game. It was nice to see them rewarded for their effort."
– Head Coach Chris Johnson
Key Coo
- Taylen Ashley: Led the Cougars with 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including two three-pointers, while adding one steal.
- Kyle Ingwerson: Finished with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding three rebounds, two assists and one steal in 44 minutes.
- Gerard Bosch: Recorded 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, seven rebounds, two steals and one block, including the final dunk that secured the victory.
- Alex Mattes: Contributed eight points on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting performance, adding two steals.
- Jacoby Mehrman: Tallied seven points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals, including the assist on the final basket.
- Brady Nick: Added six points and five rebounds.
Key Team Stats
- Shooting Efficiency: Sioux Falls shot 55.1 percent (27-of-49) from the field while limiting Missouri S&T to 40 percent (26-of-65).
- Overtime Execution: The Cougars outscored the Miners 9–6 in overtime, shooting 66.7 percent while holding Missouri S&T to 30 percent.
- Bench Production: USF received 31 points from its reserves compared to 16 for Missouri S&T.
- Paint Presence: Sioux Falls held a 34–32 advantage in points in the paint, including eight points in overtime.
- Ball Movement: The Cougars recorded 15 assists on 27 made field goals, led by Mehrman's six assists.
- Defensive Pressure: Sioux Falls forced 15 turnovers and recorded eight steals, converting those opportunities into 16 points.
Up Next
The Cougars return to Sioux Falls for their home opener against Chadron State on Friday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. inside the Stewart Center.
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