By Paul Casey Gotham
BUFFALO, NY — The South Dakota Coyotes entered play Thursday night averaging slightly more than five three-pointers per game. The Coyotes reached their average – before the final media timeout of the first half.
Louie Krogman led South Dakota with 18 points and nine assists as the Coyotes went into the Koessler Athletic Center and defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins, 67-55 in non-conference action, Thursday.
On a night where the Griffins had more questions than answers, Krogman led an aerial attack that saw the Coyotes double their season output from long range.
The teams measured each other carefully sparring for the first twenty with the Coyotes landing an upper cut to close the half.
Harold Washington paced the Golden Griffins early. The junior guard grabbed a loose ball and finished in the lane to start the scoring. Two trips later, he grabbed his own miss and scored at the rim. But by the time, Washington hit a runner in the lane the Griffs trailed 7-6.
The Coyotes stretched their lead to six at 18-12 when Louie Krogman nailed his second three of the night.
Washington responded with a baseline drive from the left and a hammer dunk.
Chris Manhertz made it a two-point game at 18-16 with a drop step into the middle of the lane and a left-handed baby hook.
Alshwan Hymes displayed his own long-range arsenal nailing three straight treys.
Washington found Hymes open on the left side for the first trifecta. Reggie Groves penetrated the lane and kicked to Hymes for the second. Hymes created his own shot with a pull up jumper.
But the Griffs still trailed 26-25. Any possible momentum from the surge was lost when Krogman connected on a pull up three in the final seconds of the half.
“One of the things that had been plaguing us were turnovers,” Canisius head coach Tom Parrotta said. “I said 12 was the number. They weren’t a team that forces a lot of turnovers, but we kept it at 10. We got good shots early, but we didn’t knock them down. They got separation by making shots , and I think that zapped our energy.”
The Coyotes’ lead grew to 15 early in the second half when Allen Saint-Gelais grabbed a defensive rebound and went end-to-end for a layup.
The Blue and Gold responded.
Hymes connected again behind the arc. Washington knifed through the lane and drew contact finishing a pair at the free throw line. David Sanitago stole an inbound pass and led Hymes into the open floor for a layup. One possession later, Santiago grabbed a loose ball in the lane and scored to make it 50-44.
But that was as close as the Griffs would get.
Canisius played the game without starting point Gaby Belardo who is still sidelined with an injured back.
“We’re not one to make excuses,” Parrotta explained. “But I thought we were a little undermanned tonight. Gaby really hurts not being in there. He’s a guy that can stretch defenses and get into the lane and make shots.”
While Canisius outrebounded South Dakota 35-33 including a 15-6 advantage on the offensive glass, the Griffs only scored seven second-chance points to four for the Coyotes.
Hymes led the Blue and Gold with 18 points. Washington added 16. Manhertz grabbed a game-high ten rebounds.
Krogman finished one assist and two rebounds shy of a triple-double.
The Griffs fall to 1-6 with the loss. Canisius plays their next three on the road starting with a Big 4 tilt Saturday night at St. Bonaventure.
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