Preview: South Dakota State at Denver in Summit League Showdown DENVER (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the middle of the Summit League standings will meet Thursday when the Denver Pioneers host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Magness Arena. Both teams enter with nearly identical records and something to prove. Denver (12-14 overall) sits just ahead of South Dakota State (11-14) in the conference hierarchy. The Pioneers are riding a two-game win streak after a decisive 98-79 road victory at North Dakota on Feb. 7. The Jackrabbits, meanwhile, look to rebound from a heartbreaking 68-67 home loss to South Dakota on that same date. The matchup features a compelling head-to-head storyline from earlier this season. On Jan. 8 in Brookings, South Dakota State defeated Denver 87-79. The Jackrabbits will aim for a regular-season sweep, while the Pioneers seek revenge on their home floor. A key battle will be between two of the league’s top performers. South Dakota State guard Joe Sayler is averaging 20.4 points over his last five games, including a 24-point, 8-rebound effort in a win over Oral Roberts on Jan. 31 and 21 points in the recent narrow loss to South Dakota. His scoring punch is vital for the Jackrabbits’ offense. For Denver, forward Logan Kinsey is coming off a dominant 20-point, 9-rebound performance in the win over North Dakota. His inside presence and efficiency will be crucial against a South Dakota State team that can score in bunches but has shown defensive vulnerabilities during its recent 1-4 stretch. Beyond the stars, Denver’s supporting cast shined in its last outing, with Carson Johnson (22 points, 7 assists) and Jeremiah Burke (20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) providing balanced production. South Dakota State will need similar complementary efforts from players like Jaden Jackson and Damon Wilkinson, who combined for 35 points in the first meeting. With the Summit League tournament on the horizon, this game carries weight for seeding. A win would give Denver a firmer hold on the upper half of the standings, while South Dakota State hopes to even its record and gain a critical road victory in the series. Tip-off is set for Thursday night in Denver.