SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – SWOSU Men’s Basketball had their historic postseason run come to an end on Saturday in the NCAA Central Region Quarterfinals after falling to No. 6/8 Augustana 83-64. Though the Vikings pulled away in the second half, the Bulldogs took a lead into the halftime locker room.
The Bulldogs end the season with a 14-17 record, but also with the title of Great American Conference Champions after becoming the lowest seeded team ever to win the GAC Tournament.
By winning the conference tournament, SWOSU earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament and the opportunity to battle Augustana on Saturday night. It was just the second time in program history SWOSU qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
In the game on Thursday, Kamden Gipson also became the third player in program history to notch 1,000 career points. He needed two points to get it done and knocked down a three-point shot late in the first half to reach his milestone. Those would be his only points on the night.
At 54% shooting in the first half which included 7-of-15 from beyond the arc, the Dawgs in good shape to start the game and did not trail through the first 20 minutes. SWOSU led Augie 33-21 nearing the five-minute mark of the first half after a Mason Hart three ball, before the Vikings closed on a 19-8 run to tighten the game back up at the break. The Dawgs took a one-point lead into the break.
Though the offense were clicking, Augie also quietly finished at 50% shooting in the first half which allowed them to weather SWOSU’s hot start.
Out of the halftime locker room, Augustana continued to build off the way they closed the half while SWOSU went cold. The Bulldogs faded, shooting just 7-of-35 overall (20%) in the final 20 minutes. Slowly, but surely, Augustana pulled away.
With SWOSU trailing 65-55 with 7:33 to play and in need of a final push, it was Augie who busted off a 13-2 run to seal it.
Tyler Riemersma, the NSIC South Division Player of the Year, led all scorers with 28 points.
Chris Braggs, Jr. finished as SWOSU’s high scorer with 13 points. Ben Smith added 12, and Mason Hart 11. Though Gipson was held in check scoring, he did lead all players with nine assists. Damion Thornton led SWOSU on the glass with six rebounds.
Senior Jaylan Williams plays his last game in a Bulldog uniform. He finishes fourth on the school’s division II list for three-point makes with 161.
