The Basics
The Omaha men's basketball team hits the hardwood for the first time in nearly three weeks this weekend, visiting South Dakota on Friday, Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. both nights at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, S.D.
David Brown and Jay Elsen will handle the live Midco broadcast. Friday's game also will be available on ESPN3, and Saturday's game will stream on ESPN+. Gary Sharp will have the radio calls on 1290 KOIL, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• After a one-week pause and a previously-scheduled off week, Omaha returns to action at South Dakota this weekend for its first game in 20 days.
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Jadin Booth is slated to make his first career start Friday night in Vermillion, having averaged 4.2 ppg in his first 13 games off the bench.
• Booth's addition to the starting five will be Omaha's fourth different lineup this season.
• While Omaha played its non-conference schedule from Nov. 25 to Dec. 29, its home facility, Baxter Arena, served as the host site for the NCHC Pod, with 38 hockey games held Dec. 1-21.
• Omaha plays 18 of its 24 games away from Baxter Arena this season.
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Matt Pile became the 42nd 1,000-point scorer in Maverick history on Dec. 17 at Wyoming.
• Pile's 821 career rebounds are the eighth-most of any active player in NCAA Division I, and his 22 career double-doubles are the 17th-most.
• Pile has started 86 consecutive games, the longest streak of any active Maverick.
• The 2020-21 season is the 108th overall in program history and the 10th of the Mavericks' Division I era. All-time, the program is 1,199-1,214.
• Omaha was picked fourth in the Summit League's preseason poll. Pile was a first-team Preseason All-Summit selection, and
Marlon Ruffin was a second-team pick.
• Pile and
Ayo Akinwole are serving as team captains for the second straight season.
Scouting the South Dakota Coyotes
South Dakota is 8-6 (6-0 Summit League) and carries a seven-game win streak after sweeping Western Illinois last weekend on the road. The Coyotes won 65-60 on Friday and 84-74 on Saturday to stay unbeaten in Summit League play. In the finale, all five starters scored in double figures, led by Tasos Kamateros with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Stanley Umude also had a double-double on 14 points and 11 rebounds.
USD was picked fifth in the league's preseason poll, and Umude was a first-team Preseason All-Summit pick.
Head coach Todd Lee is in his third season in Vermillion with a record of 41-35 and a career mark of 195-115-1 over 11 years.
All-Time Against South Dakota
Friday marks the 96th meeting between Omaha and South Dakota, and the Coyotes lead the all-time series 49-46. In the Mavericks' Division I era, USD leads the series 9-8, including 4-3 in Vermillion. Omaha's last win in Vermillion was a 79-73 victory on Jan. 9, 2016.
The two teams last met on Feb. 2, 2020 at Baxter Arena, where the Coyotes won 81-80 and snapped Omaha's 16-game home win streak. The last meeting in Vermillion was Jan. 11, 2020, which USD won 91-81.
Last Time Out: Mavericks Falter at North Dakota State, 80-66
Omaha closed its weekend at North Dakota State on Jan. 9, falling 80-66 at the Scheels Center. Three Mavericks finished in double figures for the night, led by
Marlon Ruffin's 14 points with three 3-pointers and six rebounds. It was the junior's third straight game in double figures.
La'Mel Robinson added 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting, and
Matt Pile had another 11 points on a 5-of-8 effort and grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds.
Devin Evans had a solid night off the bench with seven points and a season-high-tying six boards.
Omaha struggled offensively, finishing at 38% (24-of-64) from the field and 33% (4-of-12) from long range. NDSU shot 47% (27-of-57) from the floor and 40% (8-of-20) from three. The Bison outrebounded Omaha 39-32.
The Mavericks forced 10 turnovers while committing a season-low five themselves and outscoring NDSU 14-1 off miscues.
This and That
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Marlon Ruffin has opened Omaha's Summit League slate with four straight games in double-figures, averaging 18.5 ppg and 4.8 rpg and shooting 59% (10-of-17) from three.
• Ruffin (18.5 ppg),
Wanjang Tut (13.5 ppg) and
Matt Pile (11.0 ppg) have all averaged double-figure scoring to start league play.
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Ayo Akinwole has averaged 9.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 2.5 apg over the last six games. He was bolstered by a 19-point outburst at K-State -- one of three straight double-figure scoring performances between Dec. 17 - Jan. 2.
• Akinwole's perfect 10-of-10 streak at the stripe, in place since Dec. 5, was snapped in Omaha's last outing at North Dakota State.
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La'Mel Robinson is Omaha's leading bench scorer with 6.5 ppg. He has averaged 8.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg in league play.
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Wanjang Tut has averaged 12.9 ppg and 4.8 rpg over the last eight games. In that span, he has set a career high for scoring twice -- first with 27 at Wyoming (Dec. 17) and again with 31 at North Dakota State (Jan. 8).
• Ten different Mavericks have scored in double figures in the first 14 games.
Up Next
Omaha welcomes Western Illinois for two games on Saturday, Feb. 6 and Sunday, Feb. 7 at Baxter Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on both nights. Gary Sharp and Kyler Erickson will have the radio calls on 1180 The Zone, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Socially-distanced single-game tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster, OMavs.com/MyMav or by phone at (402) 554-MAVS. Tickets must be purchased in advance, as walkup sales will not be permitted at Baxter Arena.
