Denver visits Cluff and South Dakota State

Published Jan. 1, 2025 3:43 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Denver Pioneers (6-9) at South Dakota State Jackrabbits (9-6)

Brookings, South Dakota; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: South Dakota State faces Denver after Oscar Cluff scored 21 points in South Dakota State's 105-82 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Jackrabbits have gone 6-0 in home games. South Dakota State is 1-1 in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Pioneers are 1-6 on the road. Denver has a 2-1 record in one-possession games.

South Dakota State is shooting 46.7% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 48.1% Denver allows to opponents. Denver has shot at a 44.6% rate from the field this season, 2.9 percentage points greater than the 41.7% shooting opponents of South Dakota State have averaged.

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting this season between the two teams in conference play.

TOP PERFORMERS: Joe Sayler is shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc with 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Jackrabbits, while averaging 12.8 points.

Nicholas Shogbonyo is averaging 15.1 points for the Pioneers.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jackrabbits: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 35.0 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 5.4 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.9 points per game.

Pioneers: 3-7, averaging 74.7 points, 26.2 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 6.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.5 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.