ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball team ran into a buzzsaw on Saturday afternoon, falling 102–65 to St. Cloud State inside Halenbeck Hall and closing out a difficult road weekend. The Huskies dictated the game from the opening tip with physical defense, relentless attacks to the rim, and a massive free-throw advantage, holding the Cougars to season lows in both shooting percentage and scoring.
Game Summary
St. Cloud State set the tone with defensive pressure and physicality from the opening tip, limiting Sioux Falls to a season-low 36.5 percent shooting for the game and a frigid 3-of-18 (16.7 percent) from three-point range. The Huskies capitalized on extra possessions and lived at the free-throw line, finishing 26-of-36 at the stripe while forcing 16 Cougar turnovers that turned into 19 points.
Offensively, USF struggled to find any rhythm against a disciplined, physical SCSU defense. Despite entering the game as the NSIC's top-scoring offense at 84.7 ppg, the Cougars were held to a season-low 65 points. Nothing came easy. The shots didn't fall. The flow never materialized.
Brogan Madson led Sioux Falls with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting, battling through the defensive pressure. Gerard Bosch and Kyle Ingwerson provided steady minutes with 9 points each, but St. Cloud State's balance, efficiency, and physicality proved too much to overcome on the road.
How It Happened
First Half
St. Cloud State controlled the first 20 minutes with ruthless efficiency and physicality on both ends. The Huskies shot 50 percent from the floor and relentlessly attacked the paint, earning 24 free-throw attempts and converting 16 of them. They got to the rim at will, drew fouls, and made the Cougars pay.
In stark contrast, Sioux Falls—the league leader in free-throw attempts—was limited to just five trips to the line in the entire first half. The aggressive, downhill attack that has fueled USF's offense all season was completely neutralized by St. Cloud's physicality and defensive discipline.
USF struggled offensively, shooting 14-of-38 (36.8 percent) from the field and 2-of-10 from three while committing seven turnovers. Brogan Madson paced the Cougars with 10 first-half points, and Kyle Ingwerson added nine, but St. Cloud State's defensive activity and a staggering 7-to-1 turnover edge helped build a commanding 53–33 halftime advantage.
Second Half
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly erased as St. Cloud State continued its offensive efficiency after the break. The Huskies shot 47.1 percent in the second half, connected on seven three-pointers, and went 10-of-12 from the free-throw line to steadily extend the lead and put the game out of reach.
Sioux Falls was unable to generate sustained offense, committing nine more turnovers in the half and shooting below 40 percent once again. The defensive pressure continued. The shots continued to miss. The deficit continued to grow.
St. Cloud State maintained complete control throughout, stretching the margin and cruising to the 102–65 final, handing the Cougars a tough loss to close out the road trip.
Coach's Corner
"We ran into a really good team tonight and didn't play well enough to compete. St. Cloud State set the tone early with their physicality, and we never found a consistent rhythm on either end."
– Head Coach Chris Johnson
Key Coo
Key Team Stats
- Shooting: USF shot a season-low 36.5 percent from the field and a frigid 16.7 percent (3-18) from three. The offense never found rhythm.
- Free Throws: SCSU attempted 36 free throws and finished 26-of-36 overall, getting easy points early and setting the tone physically.
- Turnovers: USF committed 16 turnovers compared to just three by St. Cloud State. Ball security was a major issue.
- Defense: The Cougars were held to a season-low 65 points after entering the game leading the NSIC in scoring at 84.7 ppg. St. Cloud completely neutralized the attack.
Up Next
The Cougars return home next week for another Thursday–Saturday NSIC slate. Sioux Falls will host the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears on Thursday, February 12th at 5:30 p.m., followed by a matchup with the Winona State Warriors on Saturday, February 14th at 3:00 p.m. inside the Stewart Center.
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