By: Brian Tessmer
March 8, 2025 – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The Omaha Mavericks faced the South Dakota Coyotes for the third time this season in the Summit League Semi-Finals. The two teams had split their regular-season matchups, with each defending their home court. In both meetings, Omaha built double-digit leads—leading by 13 in Vermillion before falling by four and leading by 19 at home before fending off a late Coyotes rally to secure the win.
This time, however, Omaha left no doubt.
First Half
The Mavericks came out firing and never looked back, dominating South Dakota from the opening tip. Omaha controlled the paint, outscoring the Coyotes 34-4 inside, while forcing seven turnovers and converting them into 13 points off takeaways.
Junior guard Tony Osborn, who struggled in the previous game with just one point on 0-for-6 shooting, wasted no time getting on the board, drilling a three-pointer within the first two minutes. He caught fire, finishing the half with 18 points and posting a +31 plus/minus rating.
Omaha shot a scorching 65% from the field, overwhelming South Dakota on both ends. By halftime, the Mavericks had built a commanding 55-26 lead.
Second Half
The Mavericks kept their foot on the gas, stretching the lead to 38 points by the 16-minute mark. Osborn continued his red-hot shooting, racking up 30 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including an incredible 8-of-9 from three-point range.
With a comfortable cushion, Omaha utilized the final minutes to give valuable playing time to younger players. The Mavericks dropped 45 points in the second half, hitting the 100-point mark while shooting 58% overall. South Dakota never mounted a serious comeback threat, and Omaha closed out a dominant 100-75 victory.
Game Recap
For the first time since 2019, the Omaha Mavericks are heading to the Summit League Championship Game. They will face the winner of St. Thomas vs. North Dakota.
If St. Thomas wins, Omaha would automatically secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Either way, the Mavericks are just one win away from a Summit League title and a return to the Big Dance.
