SIOUX FALLS, SD — Luke Appel and Zeke Mayo each scored 16 points and South Dakota State defeated Denver 76-68 on Tuesday night to win the Summit League tournament and advance to the NCAA tournament for the seventh time.
The Jackrabbits built a 22-5 lead in the first 10 minutes. South Dakota State led 37-23 at halftime and increased its lead to 23 with eight minutes left in regulation. Jaxon Brenchley and Pedro López-Sanvicente then hit 3-pointers for Denver, and the Pioneers went on a 15-2 run to make it 65-53 with 3½ minutes left.
Brenchley hit a 3-pointer, added a free throw on the next possession and then hit another 3-pointer to pull Denver within 67-62 with a minute left. The Jackrabbits made 7 of 8 free throws to seal the victory.
William Kyle III had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Jackrabbits (22-12), and Matt Mims and Kalen Garry each scored 11.
Brenchley finished with 20 points, and Tommy Bruner, the nation's leading scorer at 24.2 points per game, scored 17 for Denver (17-17). Bruner made just 1 of 9 three-pointers and was 7 of 21 overall. DeAndre Craig scored 12.
The Jackrabbits were 11 of 17 to start the game. Mayo made half of the Jackrabbits' six 3-pointers and scored 10 before halftime. South Dakota State finished 9 of 23 from 3-point range and Denver was 11 of 36.
South Dakota State won the Summit League championship for the seventh time in eight title game appearances since 2012.
Denver has never played in the NCAA tournament and was playing in a conference tournament championship game for the second time.
