**For Immediate Release**
Aggies Fall to Nationally Ranked South Dakota in Overtime
by Scott Puryear of Aggie Sports on 11/25/05

Goodwell, OK - For the second consecutive game, the OPSU Aggies had a chance for a win in the last few seconds and the ball would just not go into the hoop for a victory. On Friday night, in the Marriot Classic in Omaha, the Aggies took undefeated South Dakota to the wire in a 79-77 overtime loss.

OPSU guard Tim Anderson went for the win with a three point attempt with three seconds left in the overtime period, but the shot did not fall. Earlier in the week, the Aggies lost to a good Midwestern State team, 85-84, when a last second shot hit the rim, then bounced away.

On Friday, the Aggies went into the game knowing they were capable of beating South Dakota, ranked 23rd in the country and carrying a 4-0 record. OPSU led for almost the entire game, which was tied 73-73 at the end of regulation.

The Aggies played well from the game’s opening tip and behind Juan Carson’s 14 first half points and team 53% three-point shooting, they held a 40-32 halftime advantage.

South Dakota came out strongly in the second half but the Aggies held off the challenge and led by five (61-56) with just over eight minutes left to play. A Nick Malinowski three-pointer put the Aggies ahead 68-61 with 5:45 remaining. However, South Dakota fought back and knotted the score 71-71 at the 1:36 mark.

A pair of free throws put South Dakota ahead 73-71, but a determined lay-up by Anderson tied the game at 73 each at the close of regulation time. The two teams continued to hammer at each other through the overtime and Anderson tried valiantly to give his team a win in the closing seconds, with a three point effort that nearly dropped through the bucket.

After the game, OPSU coach Curt Connor was proud of the Aggie effort against a nationally ranked team. “We are limiting our mistakes and we played against a very good team that had to give a very good effort for the win,” he added. Connor also noted that Dave Boots (South Dakota coach) spoke with him after the game and said the Aggies were the best team South Dakota has faced this season.

Malinowski led the Aggies (0-4) with 20 points and 12 rebounds and Carson scored 19. Anderson scored 12 and hard working forward William Preston added 11. Playmaking guard Kyle Smith scored seven points, had five rebounds and six assists.