VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Summit League clash with both teams fighting to reach .500, the South Dakota Coyotes used a dominant first-half offensive display and a career-high scoring performance from Jordan Crawford to secure an 89-72 victory over the Omaha Mavericks on Wednesday night at the DakotaDome.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,571, was effectively decided in the opening 20 minutes. South Dakota shot a blistering 48.5% from the field in the first half, connecting on 6 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc, to build a commanding 45-35 halftime lead. The Coyotes never allowed Omaha to mount a serious comeback, maintaining a double-digit advantage for nearly the entire second half.

The catalyst for South Dakota was junior guard Jordan Crawford. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native erupted for a game-high 26 points, surpassing his previous season-best and leading all scorers. Crawford was efficient, hitting 8 of 14 shots from the field, including 4 of 7 from three-point range, and added six rebounds and two steals. His backcourt partner, Uzziah Buntyn of Round Rock, Texas, provided crucial support with 18 points and three assists, while Vince Buzelis of Willowbrook, Illinois, orchestrated the offense with a team-high five assists to go with 12 points.

Omaha, which entered the game as a slight pregame favorite according to betting markets, struggled to match South Dakota’s offensive efficiency. The Mavericks were hampered by a stagnant offense that generated only three assists against 10 turnovers. While they managed to outscore South Dakota in the paint 36-32, the Coyotes’ superior ball movement and perimeter shooting proved decisive. South Dakota finished 10 for 25 from three-point range and assisted on 15 of their 28 made field goals.

The most important stretch of the game occurred early in the first half, immediately setting the tone. After a blocked shot by Omaha’s Valentino Simon on South Dakota’s opening possession, the Coyotes responded with a 10-2 run. Buntyn ignited the surge with a three-pointer, and Crawford capped it with another triple at the 16:09 mark, forcing Omaha to play from behind for the remainder of the contest. The Mavericks never got closer than eight points after that initial burst, as South Dakota consistently answered every Omaha basket with one of their own.

Paul Djobet led Omaha with 18 points and a game-high five blocks. Ja’Sean Glover provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, and Tony Osburn added 11. However, the Mavericks could not contain the Crawford-Buntyn tandem, which combined for 44 points on 14-of-26 shooting.

Statistically, the game was won on the margins where South Dakota excelled. The Coyotes posted an offensive rating of 119.9, scoring 1.199 points per possession, compared to Omaha’s 101.0. South Dakota also capitalized on Omaha’s mistakes, scoring 12 points off turnovers, and were more effective at the free-throw line, making 23 of 30 attempts.

The victory levels South Dakota’s season record at 15-15 overall and 6-9 in Summit League play, while Omaha falls to an identical 15-15, 8-7 in the conference. The result also avenges a 68-64 home loss for the Coyotes to Omaha back on Jan. 21.

South Dakota will look to build on this momentum when they host in-state rival South Dakota State on Saturday. Omaha, meanwhile, will aim to regroup on the road against Saint Thomas (Minn.) the same day.