VERMILLION — The University of South Dakota men’s basketball team was more than ready to kick off the new season.

That was evident when the Coyotes set the tone early on with a strong start Monday night.

Opening the game with a score of 12-2, USD defeated Southern University (La.) 93-79 in the team’s season opener at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. The 93 points scored by the Coyotes were the most in a season-opening victory since they scored 98 against Simpson College (Iowa) on November 4, 2021.

Starting with Chase Forte’s layup to open the season’s scoring, the Coyotes saw three of their starters get involved early, with Forte quickly scoring five points. Quandre Bullock hit a three-point jump shot off Kaleb Stewart’s assist to cap the run.

The Jaguars quickly responded with a 7-0 run, with Jordan Johnson’s triple bringing them to within three points of USD’s lead six minutes into the first half, their closest finish outside of ‘an early two-way tie. With 10 different players contributing in the scoring column, the Coyotes built a 14-point lead with three minutes left in the first half, eventually taking a 40-30 lead going into the break.

In the second half, DaMariee Jones’ layup moved Southern within seven of USD’s lead with nearly 10 minutes left. However, the Coyotes methodically put the game out of reach, as Max Burchill’s 3-point basket with less than four minutes remaining put the USD up by 20.

The cushion provided more than enough breathing room for the Coyotes to withstand an 11-2 Southern run, with Tidjiane Dioumassi scoring nine points in the final minutes of the game.

Overall, USD shot 51.6% from the field and 41.7% from the 3-point line, including going 6 of 9 in the second half. Five players finished in double figures, led by Paul Bruns’ 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Forte had 13 points, six assists and four steals, Isaac Bruns had six rebounds and 12 points and Burchill had 12 points. , four rebounds and four assists. Bullock finished with 11 points coming off the bench.

For Southern (0-1), Dioumassi led all players with 30 points on 8-of-10 shooting and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line. Jones had 11 points and nine rebounds, including five offensive rebounds, and Brentay Noel finished with 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

USD (1-0) remains at home as part of a four-game, five-game home stretch to start the season, as it hosts Texas A&M Commerce for a 7 p.m. tip-off on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Vermillion.

Blake Durham is a sports reporter for the Mitchell Republic, which he joined in October 2023. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in December 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Durham covers a variety of prep and college sports in the area.