FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Rob Davis dropped 33 points on Sioux Falls, including 23 after halftime, and hit the game-winner runner in the lane with 0.7 seconds remaining to lift FHSU 80-78 on Sunday evening (Nov. 13). It was a big win for the Tigers to even their season record at 1-1 while dropping Sioux Falls to 0-2.
Both teams did not shoot the ball particularly well in the first half and played to a 31-31 tie by halftime. FHSU shot just 36.4 percent from the field in the opening half, while holding USF to 41.9 percent and forcing 10 turnovers. But the teams both heated drastically in the second half and then traded blows from 3-point range in the final 10 minutes of a game that saw 18 lead changes.
Rob Davis began his second-half 3-point shooting and scoring barrage at the 13:31 mark. He hit the first of his five second-half 3-point field goals to give the Tigers a 45-42 edge at that point. At 10:55, he hit another three to push the FHSU lead to four and then broke a tie again with his third 3-pointer of the half at the 8:42 mark. One possession later, he buried another to push the Tigers up by four once again.
Davis broke his string of 3-point field goals with a layup at 7:08 to make the Tiger lead three again after a USF basket. With FHSU down two, he buried his fifth long-range ball at the 5:25 mark to push the Tigers back into the lead. He nailed a pair of free throws to knot the score 71-71 with 3:14 to play and then a layup on the next possession to push the Tigers ahead 73-71.
Kyler Kinnamon came up big for the Tigers in the late stages of the game. After USF hit a 3-pointer to break a tie at the 1:22 mark, Kinnamon responded by creating an old-fashioned 3-point play on a hard drive to the rim at the 1:07 mark. He then created a steal near midcourt, kept the ball alive, and Hadley Gillum eventually put in a layup with 39 seconds remaining to give FHSU a 78-76 lead. But once again, USF had the answer by hitting a layup with 23 seconds to go, tying the game for the eighth time.
It came down to Davis, who let the clock wind down to about seven seconds remaining before making his move. His first option to the left was cut off, but he kept his dribble and worked his way up the right side of the lane and hit a floater with 0.7 seconds to lift the Tigers to victory in heart-stopping fashion. Sioux Falls nearly hit a 3-quarter court shot, but the Tigers held on with the late heroics from Davis. He finished just three points shy of his career high as he scored 36 in a game last year against Central Oklahoma.
Davis finished 12-of-20 from the field overall and a blazing 7-of-11 from beyond the 3-point line. He also buried his only two free-throw attempts. Hadley Gillum had another tremendous effort with 17 points after going for a team-high 20 in the season opener on Saturday. JaQuan Smith finished with 10 points and led the team in rebounds with eight.
After a tough first half, the Tigers caught fire from the field in the second half as a team hitting at a 61.3 percent clip from the field. FHSU was 6-of-9 beyond the 3-point line in the second half. Overall, FHSU shot 48.4 percent for the game and 47.4 percent (9-of-19) beyond the 3-point line.
Sioux Falls was almost equally impressive in the second half, hitting at a 57.7 percent rate from the field and a 50 percent rate beyond the 3-point line. The Cougars matched the Tigers in second-half 3-point field goals made with six. Sioux Falls outrebounded FHSU 37-26, but FHSU forced 19 turnovers and committed just 12 to keep the game close.
Drew Guebert led USF in scoring with 23 points after pouring in 30 in Sioux Falls’ season opener on Saturday. Daniel Hurtt had 21 and Clint Thomas added 15 for the Cougars.
The Tigers host Central Christian (Kan.) College in the home opener on Wednesday night (Nov. 16) at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 pm.