Matthew Willenborg made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for Cal State Fullerton to send the South Dakota men’s basketball team to its second consecutive loss, 87-85, on Saturday, Nov. 7.
A Vince Buzelis layup made it 85-82 Coyotes with 45 seconds left, then the Titans got a Josh Ward bucket seven seconds later to make it a one-point game.
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Buzelis and Ethan Kizer then went 0-for-4 from the line to set up Willenborg’s game winner.
South Dakota trailed by 17, 74-57, with 10:10 left in the game. The Yotes then went on a 21-3 run in the next 6:39 to take a 78-77 lead.
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky Norse forward Will Shortt (7) and South Dakota Coyotes center Stef van Bussel (15) tip off the game on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky Norse forward Will Shortt (7) and South Dakota Coyotes center Stef van Bussel (15) tip off the game on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes guard Jahni Summers (44) drives to the basket while playing against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes cheer for their teammates on the court while playing against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes guard Josiah Dotzler (13) moves the ball while playing against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes guard Cade Kelderman (2) brings the ball up court while defending against Northern Kentucky Norse forward Donovan Rakotonanahary (10) on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky Norse guard B.J. Davis-Ray (9) passes the ball to a teammate while playing against the South Dakota Coyotes on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes guard Josiah Dotzler (13) goes for the rebound while playing against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes forward Jake Brack (34) goes to the basket while playing against against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes guard Jahni Summers (44) shoots the free throw while playing against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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South Dakota men’s basketball drops second straight vs Cal St Fullerton
South Dakota Coyotes guard Vince Buzelis (4) lays up the ball while playing against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes guard Kajus Kublickas (9) drives to the basket while playing against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes head coach Eric Peterson watches the free throw while the team goes against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
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Top moments of South Dakota men’s basketball vs Northern Kentucky
South Dakota Coyotes guard Jahni Summers (44) comes off the bench before the team’s game against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
(Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader)
It was a game of runs, as a 30-10 first-half run by Cal State Fullerton turned a 24-13 South Dakota lead into a 43-34 deficit. The Titans rode that wave all the way to their big lead in the second half.
Buzelis led South Dakota with a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double. Josiah Dotzler added 13 points off the bench and Jahni Summers scored 10. Kizer added nine points on 3-for-5 from deep.
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Cal State Fullerton shot the lights out against South Dakota going 17-for-34 (50.0%) from deep. Seven different Titans made a 3-pointer, led by four from Willenborg.
South Dakota (1-2) will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at home against Houston Christian.
