VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — A surging Saint Thomas (Minn.) team looks to solidify its Summit League standing when it visits South Dakota on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in a rematch of a high-scoring affair from earlier this month.

The Tommies (15-5, 4-1 Summit) enter the DakotaDome having won five of their last six, their only blemish a narrow 68-65 road loss at North Dakota State on Jan. 17. They previously handled the Coyotes (11-10, 2-3) 99-86 in St. Paul on Jan. 7, part of a dominant offensive stretch where they averaged 92.8 points over a five-game span.

Saint Thomas is led by versatile guard Austin Herro, who is coming off a 10-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance in the loss to NDSU. In the Jan. 7 win over South Dakota, Herro contributed six points, four rebounds and five assists in just 23 minutes. The Tommies’ attack is balanced, with Nolan Minessale (16 points) and Nick Janowski (11 points) also key contributors in the recent defeat.

South Dakota seeks redemption and consistency after a split in its last two outings. The Coyotes are fresh off a 68-64 road win at Omaha on Jan. 21, powered by a season-high 27 points from guard Jordan Crawford. Crawford’s scoring punch is vital; he was held to just seven points in the first meeting with Saint Thomas but has averaged 21.2 points over his last five games, including 24 in a loss at North Dakota on Jan. 17.

The Coyotes will need a stronger defensive effort to reverse the earlier result, as they allowed Saint Thomas to shoot 54% from the field in the January matchup. Protecting their home floor is crucial for South Dakota to climb above .500 in conference play.

The game tips off at 4 p.m. Central Time at the DakotaDome. Following this contest, Saint Thomas hosts North Dakota on Jan. 29, while South Dakota remains home to face Oral Roberts on the same date.