The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives on Monday night and, unfortunately for those that want to see South Dakota send its first team to the March Madness tournament, they're losing. The Western Illinois Leathernecks hold a four-point lead at halftime, 28-24, over South Dakota State in the 2012 Summit League championship game.
St. Cloud, Minn., standout Nate Wolters has struggled for the Jackrabbits early, making just three of his nine shot attempts on the way to eight first half points as the Leathernecks attempt to clamp him down with solid team defense. Big man Jordan Dykstra is picking up some of the slack, however, scoring six first half points -- though they aren't quite enough to offset his four turnovers.
Western Illinois was led in the first half by their backcourt of Tommie Tyler and Ceola Clark III. Tyler has a game-high nine points while Calrk has hit a pair of 3-pointers for his six points.
The winner of the Summit League championship game earns an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. It'll be the first time either school has made it to the Big Dance.
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