Preview: Omaha Mavericks at South Dakota State Jackrabbits BROOKINGS, S.D. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum to open the new year and conference play will meet Thursday when the Omaha Mavericks visit the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in a Summit League men’s basketball matchup. Both teams enter with identical 7-8 overall records. The game at Frost Arena marks the conference opener for each squad. Omaha looks to rebound from a 57-80 loss at Oregon on Sunday. The Mavericks had won three of their previous four games, including an 85-82 overtime victory at Lamar on Dec. 20. A key player for Omaha is guard Tony Osburn, who scored 18 points in 38 minutes against the Ducks. Over his last three games, Osburn is averaging 14.7 points and 4.7 assists. South Dakota State also faces a bounce-back challenge after a 71-99 defeat at Arizona on Monday. The Jackrabbits’ recent schedule has been arduous, with four of their last five games coming on the road, resulting in a 1-4 stretch. The Jackrabbits are led by guard Kalen Garry, who poured in 20 points against Arizona. He has been a consistent offensive force, scoring 15 or more points in five of his last seven contests, including a 20-point performance in a 94-62 win over Dakota Wesleyan on Dec. 12. Historically, Frost Arena has been a tough venue for visitors, and South Dakota State will aim to leverage that home-court advantage to reverse its recent skid. Omaha, however, has shown resilience in close games, with a 3-2 record in contests decided by five points or fewer. This matchup begins a critical January slate for both teams as they navigate the Summit League schedule. The outcome could provide an early indicator of positioning in the conference race. The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.