Tweet
Re: SDSU v NDSU
Highlights from the Argus:
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...0227/SPORTS020 2/502270341/1002
SDSU's men get it done
Freshman Holdren scores 19 for Jacks
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
published: 02/27/05
FARGO - Solid defense. Aggressive rebounding. Clutch shooting. Big scoring runs.
In the finale of its first Division I season, the old South Dakota State moxie was back.
The young Jackrabbits outscored North Dakota State 38-15 between the end of the first half and start of the second to wrap up its season with a 68-57 victory Saturday at the Bison Sports Arena.
"Who wins at the end of the season? Not many people do," said sophomore Joe Green, who had 18 points and a game-best 12 boards. "We're really excited about that. We just wanted to get back to playing Jacks basketball."
SDSU decidedly outrebounded the Bison 47-28 and held them to 25 percent from the field in the second half. The way the Jacks played reminded 10th-year coach Scott Nagy of some of his finest teams, a high compliment for a squad that struggled for consistency all year.
"We kicked tail on the boards, our kids were focused," Nagy said. "I even mentioned to (assistant coach) Troy (Larson) before the game, when we had our good teams, I loved coming to places like this because I knew we'd kick people's tails and the fans would be leaving early. There is no better feeling." . . .
"It's been a long season, it's been different, it's been tough at times," said freshman Steve Holdren, who led the Jackrabbits with 19 points and snagged 10 rebounds. "To go out this way means a lot to our seniors because it's their last game. To send them out with a win over a rival team feels good."
The Bison began with a balanced burst, building an 18-5 lead barely five minutes into the game.
SDSU countered with eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers from senior Brady Hokenson, before the Bison went back in front by 10 late in the period.
SDSU exploded with an 11-2 run to close out the first half. When Holdren drilled a 3-pointer, the Jacks claimed their first lead at 33-31, which they carried into halftime.
"When we went up two at half," Nagy said, "I knew (NDSU) was in trouble."
A jump shot and free throw by NDSU's Andy Kelchen gave the Bison a 38-37 lead early in the second when the Jacks put it away. Sophomore Ben Beran made a layup, two of his eight points in the game, followed by a Holdren 3-pointer that ignited an 11-0 run.
When Green yanked an offensive rebound, layed it back in and was fouled with six minutes left, with the ensuing free throw making it a 59-49 Jacks, Nagy bobbed his head, pumped his fist and cheered his way down the entire length of the bench. His jubilant ouburst seemed like a huge release in a season filled with ups and downs.
"The last couple games, he's really got into it," Green said of Nagy. "We've played good as a team, and it gets him pretty excited when we're on that kind of a roll."
NDSU chopped the Jacks' cushion to seven twice in the final minute, but SDSU put the game away at the line. The Bison had only six second-half field goals.
Despite a slow start, SDSU outshot NDSU 40.4 percent to 30.9 percent, on top of the 19-rebound edge.
"We just did not give our best effort tonight," NDSU coach Tim Miles said. "Credit South Dakota State. I thought they just came out and outworked us. You'll see it in our rebounding totals and defensive field goal percentage."
All but the three seniors expected to return next year for SDSU, and two talented redshirt freshmen (Matt Cadwell and Andre Gilbert) ready to fill the void. Nagy expects to add about three more recruits to make a five-player incoming class with two 6-foot-10 post players from Minnesota already committed.
"The fans here got a good look at what the future's gonna be like," Nagy said.
If only for one night, SDSU's present looked sharp.
Go State! ;D
Highlights from the Argus:
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...0227/SPORTS020 2/502270341/1002
SDSU's men get it done
Freshman Holdren scores 19 for Jacks
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
published: 02/27/05
FARGO - Solid defense. Aggressive rebounding. Clutch shooting. Big scoring runs.
In the finale of its first Division I season, the old South Dakota State moxie was back.
The young Jackrabbits outscored North Dakota State 38-15 between the end of the first half and start of the second to wrap up its season with a 68-57 victory Saturday at the Bison Sports Arena.
"Who wins at the end of the season? Not many people do," said sophomore Joe Green, who had 18 points and a game-best 12 boards. "We're really excited about that. We just wanted to get back to playing Jacks basketball."
SDSU decidedly outrebounded the Bison 47-28 and held them to 25 percent from the field in the second half. The way the Jacks played reminded 10th-year coach Scott Nagy of some of his finest teams, a high compliment for a squad that struggled for consistency all year.
"We kicked tail on the boards, our kids were focused," Nagy said. "I even mentioned to (assistant coach) Troy (Larson) before the game, when we had our good teams, I loved coming to places like this because I knew we'd kick people's tails and the fans would be leaving early. There is no better feeling." . . .
"It's been a long season, it's been different, it's been tough at times," said freshman Steve Holdren, who led the Jackrabbits with 19 points and snagged 10 rebounds. "To go out this way means a lot to our seniors because it's their last game. To send them out with a win over a rival team feels good."
The Bison began with a balanced burst, building an 18-5 lead barely five minutes into the game.
SDSU countered with eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers from senior Brady Hokenson, before the Bison went back in front by 10 late in the period.
SDSU exploded with an 11-2 run to close out the first half. When Holdren drilled a 3-pointer, the Jacks claimed their first lead at 33-31, which they carried into halftime.
"When we went up two at half," Nagy said, "I knew (NDSU) was in trouble."
A jump shot and free throw by NDSU's Andy Kelchen gave the Bison a 38-37 lead early in the second when the Jacks put it away. Sophomore Ben Beran made a layup, two of his eight points in the game, followed by a Holdren 3-pointer that ignited an 11-0 run.
When Green yanked an offensive rebound, layed it back in and was fouled with six minutes left, with the ensuing free throw making it a 59-49 Jacks, Nagy bobbed his head, pumped his fist and cheered his way down the entire length of the bench. His jubilant ouburst seemed like a huge release in a season filled with ups and downs.
"The last couple games, he's really got into it," Green said of Nagy. "We've played good as a team, and it gets him pretty excited when we're on that kind of a roll."
NDSU chopped the Jacks' cushion to seven twice in the final minute, but SDSU put the game away at the line. The Bison had only six second-half field goals.
Despite a slow start, SDSU outshot NDSU 40.4 percent to 30.9 percent, on top of the 19-rebound edge.
"We just did not give our best effort tonight," NDSU coach Tim Miles said. "Credit South Dakota State. I thought they just came out and outworked us. You'll see it in our rebounding totals and defensive field goal percentage."
All but the three seniors expected to return next year for SDSU, and two talented redshirt freshmen (Matt Cadwell and Andre Gilbert) ready to fill the void. Nagy expects to add about three more recruits to make a five-player incoming class with two 6-foot-10 post players from Minnesota already committed.
"The fans here got a good look at what the future's gonna be like," Nagy said.
If only for one night, SDSU's present looked sharp.
Go State! ;D
Comment