SOUTH DAKOTA COYOTES MEN'S BASKETBALL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Vermillion's University of South Dakota program operates from Sanford Coyote Sports Center with coach Eric Peterson at the helm of a 19-player roster that averaged 81.1 points per game during a 14-13 season. The Coyotes posted an exceptional 11-5 home record but struggled significantly away from Sanford, finishing 3-8 on the road—a 12-win gap that revealed a critical area for improvement within the confines of what became a 3-6 conference performance. Playing in the Summit League, South Dakota's offense matched its defensive output at 81.1 points allowed, indicating a team that neither dominated nor collapsed in scoring exchanges.
Founded in 1862 with an enrollment of 9,971 students, the University of South Dakota maintains Division I-FCS status while competing in basketball at a higher NCAA level within the Summit Conference framework. Peterson's program enters next season with clear data identifying home-court advantage as the Coyotes' strongest asset, having converted 11 of 19 games into victories at Sanford while their three away wins against eight road defeats demonstrated how dependent the team remains on familiar surroundings. The squad's neutral point differential masks underlying patterns of uneven road performance that structured their middle-of-the-pack conference standing.
KEY FACTS
| School | University of South Dakota |
| Sport | Men's Basketball |
| Conference | Summit League |
| Division | D1-FCS |
| Location | Vermillion, South Dakota |
| Venue | Sanford Coyote Sports Center |
| Head Coach | Eric Peterson |
ROSTER (2025-26)
| # | Name | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Evan Anderson | G |
| 13 | Silas Bennion | G |
| 34 | Jake Brack | F |
| 12 | Isaac Bruns | G |
| 5 | Luke Bruns | G |
| 1 | Uzziah Buntyn | G |
| 4 | Vince Buzelis | G |
| 0 | Jordan Crawford | G |
| 13 | Josiah Dotzler | G |
| 2 | Shey Eberwein | G |
| 54 | Cameron Fens | C |
| 14 | Jonah Funk | F |
| 25 | Jalen Hayes | G |
| 2 | Trent Hudgens | G |
| 23 | Porter Ihnen | G |
| 35 | Caleb Kizer | F |
| 21 | Ethan Kizer | F |
| 11 | Jesse McIntosh | G |
| 32 | Ashton Smith | F |
SEASON RECORD
16-16
Overall
13-6
Home
3-10
Away
4-8
Conference
79.6 PPG / 80.2 Opp PPG
SCHEDULE (2025-26)
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4 | Utah Tech Trailblazers | L 79-81 |
| Nov 6 | Creighton Bluejays | L 76-92 |
| Nov 9 | Ozark Christian Ambassadors | W 121-65 |
| Nov 13 | Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles | W 89-74 |
| Nov 16 | Western Michigan Broncos | W 83-78 |
| Nov 21 | Missouri Tigers | L 68-102 |
| Nov 23 | South Carolina State Bulldogs | W 82-81 |
| Nov 29 | Air Force Falcons | W 80-63 |
| Dec 4 | Portland State Vikings | L 71-77 |
| Dec 7 | Northern Colorado Bears | L 87-89 |
| Dec 10 | Wyoming Cowboys | L 79-106 |
| Dec 13 | Prairie View A&M Panthers | W 97-85 |
| Dec 18 | Dakota State Trojans | W 80-71 |
| Dec 20 | Kansas State Wildcats | L 76-106 |
| Dec 28 | Mount Marty College Lancers | W 85-61 |
| Dec 31 | North Dakota State Bison | L 61-84 |
| Jan 8 | St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies | L 86-99 |
| Jan 10 | Denver Pioneers | W 82-72 |
| Jan 16 | Kansas City Roos | W 99-83 |
| Jan 17 | North Dakota Fighting Hawks | L 80-96 |
| Jan 22 | Omaha Mavericks | W 68-64 |
| Jan 24 | St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies | L 78-90 |
| Jan 30 | Oral Roberts Golden Eagles | W 77-69 |
| Jan 31 | North Dakota State Bison | L 84-89 |
| Feb 5 | Kansas City Roos | W 82-75 |
| Feb 7 | South Dakota State Jackrabbits | W 68-67 |
| Feb 12 | North Dakota Fighting Hawks | L 71-72 |
| Feb 20 | Denver Pioneers | L 70-90 |
| Feb 22 | Oral Roberts Golden Eagles | L 62-67 |
| Feb 26 | Omaha Mavericks | W 89-72 |
| Feb 28 | South Dakota State Jackrabbits | W 75-70 |
| Mar 7 | Omaha Mavericks | L 62-76 |
ANALYTICS
-0.6
Pt Diff
L1
Streak
51.6%
SOS
#235
T-Rank
Barthag: 0.3518
107.8
Adj O
113.7
Adj D
OTHER SPORTS AT SOUTH DAKOTA
THE SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAMS
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South Dakota Men's Basketball ProgramsFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What conference does South Dakota Men's Basketball compete in?
- South Dakota Coyotes Men's Basketball competes in the The Summit League conference at the NCAA D1-FCS level.
- Where does South Dakota play men's basketball home games?
- South Dakota Men's Basketball plays home games at Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, SD.
- Who is the head coach of South Dakota Men's Basketball?
- The head coach of South Dakota Coyotes Men's Basketball is Eric Peterson.
- When was South Dakota Men's Basketball program established?
- The establishment date for South Dakota Men's Basketball is not currently available.