South Dakota Coyotes vs Denver Pioneers
Mooney, S. Dakota beat Denver, advance to Summit title game
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Matt Mooney scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting to help No. 2 seed South Dakota beat third-seeded Denver 76-58 on Monday night in the Summit League Tournament semifinals.
The Coyotes, who have won nine of their last 10 games since an 84-68 loss at Denver on Jan. 27, will play top-seeded South Dakota State in Tuesday's championship game. South Dakota (26-7) split its regular-season series with the Jackrabbits, handing South Dakota State its only conference loss of the season.
A win in the title game would clinch South Dakota's first NCAA Tournament berth and tie the Coyotes' single-season record for wins.
Ade Murkey's jumper about five minutes in gave Denver (15-15) a 5-4 lead, but Mooney answered with a jumper and Triston Simpson followed with a layup and then a 3-pointer to spark a 22-4 run over the next six-plus minutes and South Dakota led by double figures the rest of the way.
The Pioneers, who came in ranked No. 38 in Division I in field goal percentage (.479) and No. 7 in 3-point field-goal percentage (.410), shot just 32.6 percent (22 of 67) from the field and a season-low 15 percent (3 of 20) from beyond the arc.
Daniel Amigo led Denver with 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. The Pioneers had their five-game win streak snapped.
Game Information
Sioux Falls, SD
Referee:Terry Oglesby
Referee:Brooks Wells
Referee:Lewis Garrison
2025-26 Standings
| Summit LeagueSummit League | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 10-1 | - | 20-6 |
| St. Thomas-Minnesota | 9-3 | 1.5 | 20-7 |
| North Dakota | 9-3 | 1.5 | 15-13 |
| South Dakota | 6-6 | 4.5 | 14-13 |
| Omaha | 6-6 | 4.5 | 13-14 |
| Denver | 6-6 | 4.5 | 13-14 |
| South Dakota State | 4-7 | 6 | 11-15 |
| Oral Roberts | 1-10 | 9 | 6-20 |
| Kansas City | 1-10 | 9 | 4-21 |
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