BROOKINGS A strong third quarter on Wednesday night from South Dakota State led to a 81-58 victory over Eastern Washington at First Bank & Trust Arena.
It was a game that was part of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge and SDSU (6-2) outscored EWU 28-8 in the third quarter and held the Eagles to 3-of-15 shooting in the period. Head coach Aaron Johnston said the third quarter was a good example of the potential that the Jacks have defensively.
I just liked our defense in the second half, especially in the third quarter. We put a little more pressure on the ball and made it harder for them to get into their ball screens and had a little more denial. Just a little more pressure. I think for us, we have to adjust to that and get back to that. I think we need to use some of our length and be more assertive and use our athleticism, Johnston said.
The two teams traded baskets in the first quarter and SDSU led 16-12 with 2:32 to play in the period. The Jacks then closed the quarter with a 70 run and led 23-14 heading into the second. SDSU scored the first four points of the second to increase the lead to 13 but the Eagles (2-6) cut the lead to 37-29 at halftime.
Thats when the Jacks put the game away. SDSU opened the third quarter with a 12-0 run and that made it 49-29 with six minutes left in the third. EWU made it to 51-33 with 4:27 left but the Jacks then outscored the Eagles 14-4 the rest of the period and led 65-37 heading into the fourth.
SDSU senior point guard Paige Meyer said Johnston told the team at halftime that they had to lock in defensively.
I think at half [Johnston] talked and said we had to pick up our defense and get into the passing lanes. I think we did that in the second half and put a lot of attention on our defense. We find ways to adjust at halftime and find ways to come out at the beginning of the game and set the tone early, but I think at halftime coach has some good adjustments and were ready for the challenge, Paige Meyer said.
The Jacks shot 50% from the field and were 6-of-17 from three. They were led by Haleigh Timmer who had 15 points and six rebounds. Timmer missed all of last season with a knee injury and Johnston said he continues to be reminded of just how good of a player she is.
Haleigh Timmer is just so efficient. You can assume she has a couple of baskets and then at the end of the game she has 15 [points] because she doesnt take bad shots and makes them. Shes just a big, big part of our team, Johnston said.
Brooklyn and Paige Meyer each had 12 points. Paige Meyer also had six assists. Katie Vasecka had 11 points and Mesa Byom had seven points and six rebounds.
The Jacks roster is filled with talent and Johnston said he is slowly figuring out his rotation as the season goes along.
Its all about getting everyone moving in the same direction because we have so many players that could play and its finding what we want to do moving forward with it. So, its some of what [the coaching staff] is looking at and [players] becoming comfortable with whats expected of them and try to make that push as we head into the rest of December, Johnston said.
Coming into Wednesday nights game the Jackrabbits had played the toughest schedule in the country. They had played five teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the AP Top 25 when they played them and went 3-2 in those games. Johnston said his team has been resilient during this eight-game stretch to start the season.
Our record is great because with our two losses to Duke and Georgia Tech, I mean, theyre both really good and I thought we played well in both of those games but both of those teams played better, Johnston said. We have some other wins outside of that. I feel good about the record, but I dont know if weve quite hit our stride yet. I dont think weve played our best basketball.
One of the things that has been really good for us is how tough and resilient weve been. Before tonight we had the most difficult schedule in the country so far and thats pretty remarkable that we went through it and went 5-2. I think weve been really resilient and tough minded.
The Jacks will play the second half of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge on Saturday when they play at Montana at 3 p.m. Central time.
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