VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — Cameron Fens scored 31 points to lead South Dakota to a 99-83 victory over Missouri-Kansas City in a Summit League men’s basketball game Thursday night at DakotaDome. The Coyotes (10-9) used a dominant first half, building a 56-36 lead, to secure the win. Fens, a 6-foot-10 center, was efficient from the field and the free-throw line. Isaac Bruns added 22 points for South Dakota. The Kangaroos (4-15) were led by Kasheem Grady’s 21 points and U’Riyah Evans’ 14. Missouri-Kansas City cut into the deficit after halftime but could not overcome the early margin. South Dakota shot 50.7% from the field and made 21 of 25 free throws. A crowd of 1,760 attended the game.

VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half offensive explosion from South Dakota, fueled by a career-high scoring performance from center Cameron Fens, proved too much for Missouri-Kansas City to overcome as the Coyotes cruised to a 99-83 victory in Summit League men’s basketball action Thursday night at the DakotaDome. The game was effectively decided in the opening 20 minutes. South Dakota (10-9, 2-2 Summit) came out scorching, building a 20-point halftime lead behind a 56-point first-half performance. The Coyotes shot a blistering 61% from the field in the half, dissecting the Kangaroos’ defense with precision. Fens, a 6-foot-10 junior from Dubuque, Iowa, was the central figure in the onslaught. He scored 19 of his game-high and career-best 31 points before the break, showcasing his efficiency around the rim and from the free-throw line. He finished the night 12-of-15 from the field and added seven rebounds and two blocks, controlling the paint at both ends. His frontcourt partner, Isaac Bruns, provided a perfect complement. The guard from North Sioux City, South Dakota, orchestrated the offense with 22 points and four assists, repeatedly breaking down the UMKC defense to create opportunities for himself and others. Missouri-Kansas City (4-15, 1-3) showed resilience after the intermission, scoring 47 second-half points and briefly cutting the deficit to 12, but could never mount a sustained threat against the Coyotes’ consistent offensive output. The Kangaroos were led by Kasheem Grady’s 21 points, while U’Riyah Evans added 14 and Chris Dockery chipped in 13. The most important stretch of the game arrived early, as South Dakota seized immediate control. After UMKC’s Evans opened the scoring with a floating jumper, the Coyotes embarked on a decisive 23-5 run over a seven-minute span. The surge featured a balanced attack: a three-pointer from Bruns, another from Jordan Crawford, and relentless interior work from Fens, who capped the run with a tip-in dunk for a 23-7 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the half. Missouri-Kansas City never recovered from that early barrage. Every time the Kangaroos managed a small run, South Dakota had an answer, often from Fens or Bruns. A three-pointer from Crawford just before the halftime buzzer sent the Coyotes into the locker room with their largest lead at 56-36, sucking the drama from the contest. South Dakota’s backcourt depth was also on display. Crawford finished with 16 points, while point guard Uzziah Buntyn directed traffic effectively, dishing out a game-high six assists to go with 10 points. Evan Anderson provided a solid 18 minutes off the bench with seven points and two assists. For the Kangaroos, the loss extended a difficult season. Grady’s scoring was a bright spot, and Jayson Petty contributed nine points and active defense, but UMKC struggled to get consistent stops. The Kangaroos were outrebounded and allowed South Dakota to shoot 58% from the field for the game. The victory moves South Dakota back to .500 in conference play and provides momentum heading into a road test at North Dakota on Saturday. The Coyotes outperformed pregame expectations, easily covering the 7.5-point spread in a game where the total points soared past the over/under line of 161.5. Missouri-Kansas City, meanwhile, will look to regroup quickly as it travels to face South Dakota State on Saturday, still seeking its first road win in Summit League play this season.

VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — The South Dakota Coyotes look to climb above .500 and solidify their Summit League standing when they host the struggling Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos on Thursday night at the DakotaDome. South Dakota (9-9, 1-2 Summit) is coming off an 82-72 conference win over Denver last Saturday, powered by a standout performance from forward Cameron Fens. The junior recorded 23 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, showcasing the inside presence that will be central to the Coyotes’ game plan. Fens is averaging 15.2 points and 9.1 rebounds over his last six games. UMKC (4-14, 1-2) seeks to halt a two-game skid after a narrow 81-79 home loss to North Dakota. The Kangaroos have relied heavily on the scoring and playmaking of guard U’Riyah Evans. The sophomore is averaging 18.2 points and 5.2 assists over his last five contests, including a 24-point, 7-assist effort in the loss to the Fighting Hawks. Support came from Karmello Branch (20 points) and Jayson Petty (18 points) in that game, indicating a need for multiple scorers to emerge on the road. The matchup pits UMKC’s perimeter attack, led by Evans, against South Dakota’s interior strength anchored by Fens. The Kangaroos rank last in the Summit League in scoring defense, allowing 81.2 points per game, a vulnerability the balanced Coyotes will look to exploit. South Dakota holds a clear advantage in the season trajectory, playing at home where they are 6-2 this season. UMKC is 1-9 in true road games, with its lone win coming at Omaha on Jan. 3. This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will play again in Kansas City on Feb. 4. The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. EST tip-off.