SIOUX FALLS — Troy Houghton drove the lane and hit a go-ahead jumper in the first minute of overtime, Devin Green had a career-high and Teathloach Pal came up with two critical steals to seal University of Sioux Falls Men’s Basketball’s thrilling 87-85 overtime victory over Winona State on Saturday evening in front of a raucous home crowd at the Stewart Center. With the win, USF (15-5, 11-3) maintains a one-game lead in the NSIC South Division at 11-3 with Upper Iowa at 10-4.. The Cougars, which rallied down five (71-66) in regulation to force overtime, outscored WSU, 16-14, in overtime to claim the win and moved to 9-1 in South Division play. They now hold an 8-7 lead in the all-time series with Winona State (11-9, 8-6 NSIC).
The Cougars salvaged the weekend split as Devin Green had a career-high 18 points to help offset a 47-point performance by WSU guard Caleb Wagner. The senior guard scored 47 points on-18-for-22 shooting, including 6-for-7 on three pointers and a handful of circus shots, all while committing just two turnovers. Kevion Taylor posted a double-double for the Warriors, finishing with 26 points on 9-for-18 shooting and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, USF’s balanced attack proved to be a tad more beneficial than WSU’s due.
Green scored a career-high 18 points and he scored 12 points in the second half and overtime. Junior guard Trevon Adams added 18 points off the bench while sophomore guard Chase Grinde had 14 points. Junior guard William Lybaek chipped in with 13 to round out USF’s double-digit scorers.
As it has been most of the season, winning the battle of the boards was key for the Cougars. USF’s standing as No. 1 in the NSIC in rebounding defense and No. 2 in rebound margin speaks to their purpose, and they have one of the league’s most determined glass cleaners in junior forward Teathloach Pal.
Pal, who received his first NSIC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week nod earlier this season, corralled 10 rebounds to lead USF to a 34-28 advantage on the glass.
In USF’s last seven games – five of them wins – the Cougars outrebounded its opponents by a collective, 243-210.
The Cougars trailed by as much as 11 in the first half but rallied at home. They had a 25-15 run down the stretch of the half, eventually cutting Winona State’s advantage to 33-32 at the break.
The Cougars needed late heroics in regulation just to get to the extra period. Trailing 71-66 with 36 seconds left in the second half, Green drained a three-pointer. After WSU’s Kevion Taylor missed from close range on the ensuing play, Houghton grabbed the crucial defensive board to set up one final shot for USF. In the closing seconds, Grinde sprinted down the court and splashed the jumper to send the game to overtime, 71-71.
Green hit a pair from the charity stripe to stake USF to the early 73-71 lead in overtime. A three-pointer by Taylor put Winona State in front 74-73, but the visitor’s lead did not last. Houghton drained a jumper and after Taylor was called for an offensive foul on the following possession, Green took matters into his own hands. His traditional three-point play pushed USF’s lead to 78-74 with 3:22 on the clock.
Key to USF’s success was its work at the foul line. Coming in USF was hitting 69 percent but against WSU made 18-for-21—including 7-for-8 in the final minutes—to complete the come-from-behind victory.
USF will travel to Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston next weekend.
