Calvin Kapels scored 13 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to lead the Mavericks past South Dakota for an 87-80 North Central Conference win at Lee & Helene Sapp Fieldhouse Thursday night.
The Mavericks improved to 12-9 overall and 2-2 in the NCC in overcoming a 39-35 halftime deficit against South Dakota, which fell to 13-5 and 1-2.
UNO held USD scoreless for over three minutes to start the second half, but still trailed by 42-39 with 16 minutes remaining before starting a 17-4 run over the next four minutes to take control of the game. During that stretch, Kapels scored five points and handed out two assists.
The Mavericks gradually pulled away, using two three-pointers by
Zac Robinson and another by
Grant Nieland to build their biggest lead, 80-63, with 3:27 to play.
The Coyotes chipped away at the lead, pulling close with a pair of three-pointers by Eric Hall in the final minute. But UNO's
Jamaal Byers connected on five free throws in the closing minutes and
Denny Johnston and Kapels two each in the last 22 seconds.
The teams played a tight first half, with UNO holding a 27-22 lead with 7:33 left before the Coyotes came back and took the lead with a 7-2 run over the final two minutes, 39-35.
Hall led USD with 20 points and Turner Trofholz scored 18 before fouling out with 3:35 left. Trofholz was held to one field goal and six points the second half. Jesse Becker added 16 points.
Besides Kapels, who also had six rebounds and five assists,
Ryan Curtis scored 15 points, Robinson 14 and Johnston 12. The 23 points was Kapels' best outout this season and two short of his career high as he moved up to 946 career points. Curtis now has 943 career points.
UNO's next action will be Saturday night when they host Upper Iowa at 8.
