The Basics
The Omaha men's basketball team opens its eighth season of conference play as a member of the Summit League this Sunday, Dec. 29, welcoming South Dakota State. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m. at Baxter Arena.
The game will be broadcast live on YurView Cox Channel 13, ESPN+ and Midco with Donny Baarns on play-by-play and John Karhoff providing color commentary. Gary Sharp and
Kyler Erickson will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
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Matt Pile is the nation's leader for total rebounds (161) and ranks 16th for rebounds per game (10.7).
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Ayo Akinwole has played the 20th-most minutes of any player in the country.
JT Gibson is 31st, and Pile is 40th.
• As a team, Omaha is seventh in the nation for total rebounds (557).
• The 2019-20 season is the 107th overall in program history and the ninth of the Mavericks' Division I era. All-time, the program is 1,188-1,194.
• The Mavericks have shot 50.0% as a team three times this year and have 16 straight wins when shooting 50.0% or better.
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JT Gibson,
KJ Robinson,
Ayo Akinwole and
Matt Pile will serve as first-time team captains this season.
Scouting the South Dakota State Jackrabbits
South Dakota State has a record of 9-6 (0-0 Summit League) after an 85-57 home win over Idaho last Saturday to cap non-conference play. Douglas Wilson had a team-leading 18 points and was joined in double figures by Alex Arians (15 points), David Wingett (12 points) and Matt Dentlinger (12 points/10 rebounds).
South Dakota State was picked fifth in the Summit League's preseason poll. Wilson has been the Jackrabbits' leading scorer with 16.7 points per game, which ranks second in the league.
Head coach Eric Henderson has a career record of 9-6 in his first season in Brookings.
All-Time Against South Dakota State
Sunday marks the 78th meeting between Omaha and South Dakota State, and the Jackrabbits lead the all-time series 46-31, including 11-4 in the Mavericks' Division I era. The Jackrabbits have a 5-2 advantage in Omaha since 2012-13. Omaha had the final word in the last meeting with SDSU on Feb. 14, 2019, when
Mitch Hahn's buzzer-beater sealed an 85-84 win at Baxter Arena.
Summit League Openers
Omaha is 3-4 in Summit League openers since joining the conference in 2012-13. Sunday marks the third time that the Mavericks have opened league play at home.
Honey, We're Home
Omaha was 10-2 at home last season, including 7-1 in Summit League play, and ended the slate on a six-game home win streak. They averaged 83.3 points per game and had an average margin of victory of 13.4 points at Baxter Arena.
After a Dec. 21 overtime win over Montana, Omaha has won 12 straight home games dating back to last season. Over the last four years, the Mavericks have enjoyed a 41-14 (.745) advantage at home.
Home Is Where the Streak Is
Omaha carries a 12-game home win streak after last Saturday's win over Montana, which is the longest stretch of the
Derrin Hansen era.
Last Time Out: Gibson Lifts Mavericks to 87-82 OT Win Over Montana
After a clutch
JT Gibson three sent the game to a bonus period, Omaha outlasted Montana 87-82 in overtime last Saturday at Baxter Arena.
The Mavericks' senior duo of Gibson and
KJ Robinson stepped up to lead the way in the scoring column. Robinson, playing in his 100th career game, finished with a season-high 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting with three 3-pointers. Gibson had 22 points, including the game-tying three to send it to overtime.
Matt Pile put up his sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and a career-high 16 rebounds alongside a season-high four blocks.
Zach Thornhill narrowly missed a double-double of his own, posting 16 points and nine rebounds while hitting a perfect 8-of-8 at the stripe.
Even with a dismal first-half start, Omaha outshot Montana 43.1% (25-of-58) to 40.8% (29-of-71). The Mavericks also outrebounded the Grizzlies 51-34.
Montana limited itself to just seven turnovers for the day, while Omaha committed a season-high 20 miscues, leading to 19 points.
Up Next
Omaha welcomes Oral Roberts on Saturday, Jan. 4, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at Baxter Arena. Gary Sharp and
Kyler Erickson will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
