SIOUX FALLS — The University of Sioux Falls Men’s Basketball Team (22-7), which has put together the best regular season in the program’s Div. II history and won the NSIC South title, will face Minnesota State (15-14) in the quarterfinal round of the NSIC Sanford Health Tournament today at 5:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
KWSN will carry the game starting at 5:15 on 98.1 FM, 1230-AM, this website page, and the FREE KWSN mobile app.
The Cougars, which will be led by NSIC Coach of the Year Chris Johnson and All-NSIC performers Chase Grinde, Teathloach Pal and Jack Thompson, advanced to the quarterfinals with a 79-68 win over Minot State in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday.
USF will attempt the difficult task of beating the same team three times in the same season. The Cougars beat the Mavericks 86-81 in Mankato on Dec. 10, and 71-64 in Sioux Falls on Jan. 10.
NSIC Sanford Health Postseason Tournament
Sat., Feb. 29 – Quarterfinal Round
(S4) Augustana vs (N1) Northern State, 12:00 PM
(S2) Upper Iowa at (N3) MSU Moorhead, 2:30 PM
((S1) Sioux Falls vs (S.5) Minnesota State, 5:30 PM
((N2) Minnesota Duluth vs. (S3) Winona State, 8:00 PM
USF in NSIC Tourney – Breakdown
The Cougars stand 5-7 in the NSIC Postseason Tournament, including five straight road wins in the opening round. The Cougars played and won a first round home game in the tourney for the third straight season. USF, which have won 8-of-10 games, defeated Minot State, 79-68. After the best regular season in the program’s DII history, the winning continued in the post season for the University of Sioux Falls Men’s Basketball Team (22-7), which used 20 points from sophomore guard Chase Grinde and double-digits by four others to turn back Minot State, 79-68, in the opening round of the NSIC Sanford Health Tournament at the Stewart Center on Wednesday night. Grinde, who has led USF in scoring all season (12.8 ppg) had a solid performance and now has 21 career games, including 14 straight, in double-digits. He reached 20 points in a game for the fourth time of his career as he made 6-of-10 field goals and was 4-of-6 from three. A Spring Grove, Minn., native, Grinde also hit 4-of-5 free throws, had four rebounds and dished a career-best eight dimes. He was joined by four others in double-digit points as the Cougars captured its third straight home first round NSIC Tourney win.
Now the Cougars will battle Minnesota State, a team they beat twice in the regular season, 86-81, at the Taylor Center in Mankato on Dec. 7 and 71-64 on Jan. 10 at the Stewart Center. MSU was the South favorite while USF was picked 10th in the preseason polls. Both squads feature strong imposing front lines. USF is led by Chase Grinde while MSU has a standout in Cameron Kirksey, who is scoring 17.8 ppg.
