Preview: South Dakota Coyotes at Denver Pioneers DENVER (Interstat) — A pivotal Summit League men’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Thursday night when the Denver Pioneers host the South Dakota Coyotes at Magness Arena. Both teams enter the contest looking to climb above .500 in conference play and improve their positioning ahead of the league tournament. South Dakota (14-13 overall) arrives after a heartbreaking 72-71 home loss to North Dakota on Feb. 11, a game decided on a final possession. Denver (13-15) seeks to rebound from a 83-76 road loss at Omaha on Feb. 15. The matchup features a compelling rematch from just over a month ago. On Jan. 10 in Vermillion, the Coyotes defeated the Pioneers 82-72, led by a dominant performance from guard Cameron Fens. Fens enters this game as South Dakota’s primary offensive threat, averaging 20.4 points over his last five contests. He scored 22 points in the previous meeting against Denver and is coming off a 22-point effort in the loss to North Dakota. Denver will counter with its own standout in guard Jeremiah Burke. Burke has been a model of consistency, scoring in double figures in seven consecutive games, including an 18-point performance in the loss to Omaha. His versatility was on full display in a win over North Dakota on Feb. 7, where he posted 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The game could hinge on which team controls the tempo. South Dakota’s offense runs through Fens, but they have shown balance with contributors like Vince Buzelis and Silas Bennion. Denver, led by Burke and supported by Logan Kinsey and Carson Johnson, has shown explosive potential, evidenced by a 98-point outing earlier this month. With both teams tightly packed in the league standings and the regular season winding down, Thursday’s result will carry significant weight. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST at Magness Arena.