The Hardrockers are down by 4 in the second quarter when Michael Dietz and Kyle Doer play a little give and go. Dietz finishes strong and draws the foul. He would miss the free throw but the cougar lead was down to one. Sioux Falls is a veteran team and they responded like one. Keith Cutler spots up from the corner and he connects for his first points of the night. Nate Jacobsen drives the lane. He hits the deck, no call but he finishes cutting the lead back down to three. Next time down Tanner Friezen uses the little curl and he gets nothing but net on the mid range jumper and we have a tie game. Then Sioux Falls' James Rader blows by everyone and gets the pretty reverse to fall as the Cougars regain the lead. Two possessions later with the shot clock winding down Breston McNeil penetrates and hits the tough lay in over Dietz.

Cory J. Coppock