South Dakota State Tops Denver in High-Scoring Clash
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · First Bank & Trust Arena
South Dakota State Jackrabbits 87, Denver Pioneers 79, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Denver Pioneers vs South Dakota State Jackrabbits?
South Dakota State Jackrabbits beat Denver Pioneers 87-79 at First Bank & Trust Arena on January 8, 2026.
Who was favored in Denver Pioneers vs South Dakota State Jackrabbits?
South Dakota State Jackrabbits were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -380 (about 79% implied). The favorite won.
In an exciting matchup at the First Bank & Trust Arena, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits defeated the Denver Pioneers with a final score of 87-79. This victory marks an important moment for the Jackrabbits, who have been striving to improve their performance in the NCAAB season. The game showcased both teams' offensive capabilities, with South Dakota State averaging 77.1 points scored in their last ten games, while Denver has been even more prolific, averaging 92.5 points over the same span.
The Jackrabbits entered this game with a home record of 9-9 and a recent form of 4-6 in their last ten games, but they faced a tough challenge against the Pioneers, who had an away record of 8-10 and had won six of their last ten games. South Dakota State's recent performance included a narrow loss to North Dakota Fighting Hawks on January 3, where they lost 87-90, and a win against Omaha Mavericks on January 1, where they triumphed 84-69. However, they were coming off a loss, which extended their losing streak to one.
On the other hand, Denver's recent form has been more favorable, with a record of 6-4 in their last ten games, though they too were coming off a loss against St. Thomas Tommies on January 4, where they fell short with a score of 88-92. The Pioneers had a strong offensive showing in their previous games, including a notable victory against Kansas City Roos, where they won 87-74 on December 31.
The Jackrabbits have shown a balanced scoring approach at home, averaging 80.2 points while allowing 86.6 points in their last five games. Conversely, Denver has been particularly strong at home, with a record of 5-1, but struggled on the road with an away record of 1-3. This game was crucial for both teams as they looked to solidify their standings in the league.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, South Dakota State and Denver have faced each other twice in the 2025 season, with each team winning once. The Jackrabbits won their most recent meeting on January 3, 2025, with a decisive score of 91-70, while Denver claimed victory earlier in the season with a score of 78-62.
Injuries were not reported as a significant factor for either team in this matchup, allowing both squads to field their strongest lineups. The market had priced South Dakota State as the favorite, with odds of -8.5 according to DraftKings, while the total points line was set at 162.5, reflecting expectations of a high-scoring game.
The conditions in the arena were favorable for basketball, contributing to the high-scoring affair. As the game progressed, key moments included Jaden Jackson making crucial free throws in the second half, which helped the Jackrabbits maintain their lead. Additionally, Zane Nelson's impressive 28-foot three-point jumper capped off a series of scoring plays that showcased the Jackrabbits' offensive prowess.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the competitive nature of both teams, with South Dakota State emerging victorious in a game that featured significant scoring contributions from both sides. The Jackrabbits will look to build on this win as they continue their season, while Denver will aim to regroup after a tough loss.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SDST -8.5 | 162.5 o -110 / u -110 | Denver Pioneers +300 · South Dakota State Jackrabbits -380 |
Leaders
- PointsDamon Wilkinson19South Dakota State Jackrabbits
- AssistsJaden Jackson4South Dakota State Jackrabbits
- ReboundsDamon Wilkinson9South Dakota State Jackrabbits
- PointsCarson Johnson27Denver Pioneers
- AssistsCarson Johnson3Denver Pioneers
- ReboundsJeremiah Burke8Denver Pioneers
Recent form
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Last 10: 4-6Streak L177.1 scored · 76.9 allowed per game2-2 at home
- L87-90at North Dakota Fighting HawksJan 3
- W84-69vs Omaha MavericksJan 1
- L71-99at Arizona WildcatsDec 30
- L87-88at Milwaukee PanthersDec 19
- L72-87vs Wyoming CowboysDec 16
- W94-62vs Dakota Wesleyan TigersDec 13
- W68-64at Ball State CardinalsDec 10
- L81-84vs Idaho VandalsDec 6
- W75-62at Northern Arizona LumberjacksDec 4
- L52-64at UC Irvine AnteatersNov 27
Denver Pioneers
Last 10: 6-4Streak L192.5 scored · 83.5 allowed per game1-3 away
- L88-92at St. Thomas TommiesJan 4
- W87-74vs Kansas City RoosDec 31
- L85-90at Tulsa Golden HurricaneDec 22
- W86-79at Northern Colorado BearsDec 20
- W129-93vs Colorado Colorado Springs Mountain LionsDec 17
- L86-105vs Cal State Fullerton TitansDec 13
- W97-61vs Alaska Anchorage SeawolvesDec 12
- W95-59vs Colorado Christian CougarsDec 10
- L79-93at Idaho State BengalsDec 6
- W93-89vs Eastern Washington EaglesDec 4
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 31-4 | - | 16-2 |
| Saint Mary's | 27-6 | - | 16-2 |
| Santa Clara | 26-9 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Oregon State | 17-16 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Seattle U | 21-14 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Pacific | 18-15 | 8 | 8-10 |
| San Francisco | 17-16 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Washington State | 12-20 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Portland | 15-19 | 10 | 6-12 |
| San Diego | 12-21 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Pepperdine | 9-23 | 12 | 4-14 |
| North Dakota State | 27-8 | - | 14-2 |
| St. Thomas | 24-10 | 2 | 12-4 |
| North Dakota | 18-17 | 4 | 10-6 |
| South Dakota | 16-16 | 6 | 8-8 |
| Omaha | 16-17 | 6 | 8-8 |
| Denver | 15-17 | 7 | 8-8 |
| South Dakota State | 14-18 | 7 | 7-9 |
| Oral Roberts | 10-23 | 10 | 4-12 |
| Kansas City | 4-27 | 13 | 1-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Denver Pioneers | South Dakota State Jackrabbits |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-69 | 31-62 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 9-24 | 6-18 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 33 |
| Free throws | 10-15 | 19-25 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 76 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 27 |
| Assists | 10 | 15 |
| Steals | 6 | 4 |
| Blocks | 2 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 48 |
| Fouls | 19 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 9 |
| Lead changes | 6 | 6 |
| Time in front | 43 | 50 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half55-49Carson Johnson makes 27-foot three point jumper (Logan Kinsey assists)
- 2nd Half55-50Bubz Alvarez makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-50Jeremiah Burke makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half57-52Joe Sayler makes 6-foot jumper (Kalen Garry assists)
- 2nd Half58-52Logan Kinsey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-52Logan Kinsey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-55Kalen Garry makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half59-57Joe Sayler makes layup
- 2nd Half59-58Joe Sayler makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half61-58Carson Johnson makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half62-58Shaun Wysocki makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-58Shaun Wysocki makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-60Jaden Jackson makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-60Jeremiah Burke makes layup
- 2nd Half65-61Jaden Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-62Jaden Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-65Jaden Jackson makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half66-65Jeremiah Burke makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-65Jeremiah Burke makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-67Damon Wilkinson makes layup (Kalen Garry assists)
- 2nd Half67-69Damon Wilkinson makes layup (Joe Sayler assists)
- 2nd Half67-70Jaden Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-71Jaden Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-73Damon Wilkinson makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half68-73Jeremiah Burke makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-73Carson Johnson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Logan Kinsey assists)
- 2nd Half71-76Matthew Mors makes 23-foot three point jumper (Joe Sayler assists)
- 2nd Half72-76Gabe Oldham makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-77Alec Squires makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-78Matthew Mors makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-78Jeremiah Burke makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half74-81Bubz Alvarez makes 25-foot three point jumper (Matthew Mors assists)
- 2nd Half74-82Jaden Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-83Jaden Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-83Logan Kinsey makes layup (Zane Nelson assists)
- 2nd Half76-84Joe Sayler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-85Joe Sayler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-85Zane Nelson makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half79-86Jaden Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-87Jaden Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours South Dakota State Jackrabbits, below favours Denver Pioneers.
Venue
- First Bank & Trust ArenaBrookings, SD
- Attendance2127
- OfficialsBrian McAnally, Luke Schumer, Nate Gamet
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