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We are just two and a half weeks away now from the Summit League basketball championships.

Back in October last year, the South Dakota State men were picked to finish fifth in a pre-season poll of the league head coaches, sports information directors and select media members.

Out of 34 voters, two picked SDSU as the regular season champ. One coach and one media member went with the Jacks and we don’t know who they are, but they might end up being right.

With three regular season games left, SDSU is all alone in first place at 11-and-2.

The Jacks ran their home win streak to 23 in a row on Sunday but had to come up with a huge second half comeback against Purdue-Fort Wayne.

The Dons had nine first-half steals and 15 points off turnovers to take a ten-point halftime lead in Brookings.

But SDSU went on a 12-0 run to start the second half. The Jacks go from down 10 to up by as many as 23 in the second half and win it 75-64.

Matt Dentlinger makes all eight shots he takes on his way to 18 points and 10 rebounds. Dentlinger is shooting 69-percent from the field to lead the league right now.

And the Jackrabbits have won six in a row.

NDSU has won six in a row, as well. The second-place Bison play at third-place South Dakota on Wednesday night.

The Coyotes had won seven in a row, but had that streaked stopped in a loss at Oral Roberts. ORU had four players in that game with at least 17 points, led by Emanuel Nezekwezi with 23.

North Dakota is holding steady at the .500 mark. The Firghting Hawks host the league leaders this week. SDSU goes to Grand Forks on Wednesday and NDSU is at UND on Saturday.

Omaha stopped a four-game skid with a home win over Denver on Sunday.

Purdue-Fort Wayne is looking like they will finish no worse than 7^th place while the 8 spot, the last spot in the Summit League tournament, is still up for grabs between Western Illinois and Denver.

Meanwhile…

The South Dakota women get to 13-0 in the league with a blowout win at home and a close call on the road.

The Yotes beat Western Illinois in Vermillion 88-51. Hannah Sjerven with 18 points and 11 rebounds in just 16 minutes for USD.

That win made it 12 in a row and then USD was at Oral Roberts on Saturday. ORU was within two points late in the game, but USD pulls it out 77-73.

So the Yotes now with a two-game lead because South Dakota State lost at home to Denver on Thursday. The Jacks then came back to beat Purdue-Fort Wayne by 45 on Saturday. SDSU is 11-2.

Western Illinois earned a home win over North Dakota to get to 8-and-5.

ORU is a game back at 7-and-6.

Denver has won three in a row to jump into 5^th place. The Pioneers don’t play again until Sunday when they host Oral Roberts.

UND has dropped three in a row with South Dakota State coming to Grand Forks on Thursday.

North Dakota State could finish anywhere from 7^th to 3^rd depending on what happens in the next two weeks but the Bison sit at 5-7.

Omaha plays at Fort Wayne on Saturday in a game that could determine whether the Mavs or the Dons make the Summit League Tournament.

More Summit League Action

Road to Sioux Falls for Summit League Basketball: Ep 5

Road to Sioux Falls for Summit League Basketball: Ep 4