Tommies Advance in Summit League Playoffs

St. Thomas men's basketball team defeats South Dakota State in quarterfinals

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The second-seeded St. Thomas men's basketball team defeated the No. 7 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits 80-67 in the Summit League quarterfinals on Thursday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Jackrabbits came out strong, leading by seven points early in the game, but the Tommies were able to rally and pull away for the victory.

Why it matters

This win advances the Tommies to the next round of the Summit League playoffs, keeping their hopes alive for a conference championship and potential NCAA Tournament berth. The Jackrabbits' early lead showed they came ready to play, but the Tommies' ability to respond and take control of the game demonstrates their resilience and skill.

The details

The Jackrabbits jumped out to a 7-point lead with 9:16 remaining in the first half, but the Tommies were able to rally and take a 37-33 lead into halftime. In the second half, the Tommies pulled away, outscoring the Jackrabbits 43-34 to secure the 80-67 victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 6, 2026.
  • The Jackrabbits led by 7 points with 9:16 left in the first half.

The players

St. Thomas men's basketball team

The second-seeded team in the Summit League playoffs.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits

The No. 7 seed team in the Summit League playoffs.

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What’s next

The Tommies will advance to the next round of the Summit League playoffs, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds.

The takeaway

The Tommies' ability to overcome an early deficit and pull away for a convincing victory demonstrates their resilience and skill, keeping their hopes alive for a conference championship and potential NCAA Tournament berth.