University of North Dakota Athletics

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Junior Todd Rypkema's game-high 25 points wasn't enough as the North Dakota men's basketball team drops a 73-66 decision to No. 5 South Dakota State Saturday night at the Hyslop Sports Center.
     Rypkema, who posted just nine points in the win over Augustana last night, was 11-for-15 from the field and pulled down nine rebounds. Junior Mike Johnson added 15 points, on 6-of-10 shooting, pulled down four rebounds and also had three assists while senior Dan Dahl chipped in with 10 points, on 4-of-6 shooting and was a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the arc.
     For the Jackrabbits (23-3, 7-3 NCC), Andy Moeller led the way with 22 points, on 7-of-12 shooting, with five of those field goals coming from behind the arc. Derrick Schantz chipped in with 19 points, which he scored 12 of those in the first half, on 6-of-11 shooting, with three of those field goals being three pointers.
     South Dakota State came out strong in the second half, as they quickly built on its 12-point half time lead, pushing its advantage to 16 points, 47-31, two minutes into the second half. North Dakota (13-10, 4-6 NCC) used the next six and half minutes to make a 16-4 run, with Rypkema scoring seven of the 16 points, to cut its deficit to four points, 51-47, with 10:58 remaining.
     Twice after that the Sioux got within two points and had chances to tie or take the lead, but just couldn't take advantage of opportunities to score as the Jackrabbits would got their lead back up to as many as seven points.
     The game was close throughout the first half, as South Dakota State lead by as many as seven points, 26-19, with 5:44 left in the half. The Sioux were able to get within two points, 26-24, but the Jackrabbits went on a 13-3 in the final 4:07 in the half to go into the locker room with a 39-37 lead.
     Next weekend will be the last road trip of the season for the Sioux, as they travel to Omaha, Neb. to take on Nebraska-Omaha on Friday, Feb. 20 before heading off to Vermillion, S.D. for a match-up with South Dakota on Saturday, Feb. 21. Both games start at 8 p.m.