South Dakota tips Tabor 69-63 as Boots wins 600th

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Charlie Westbrook scored 21 points and South Dakota coach Dave Boots won his 600th game as the Coyotes held off Tabor 69-63 Monday night.

Trevor Gruis added 17 points and Louie Krogman 13 for the Coyotes (2-3). Jared Bartling grabbed 11 rebounds.

In his 31st season of coaching, Boots is now 600-263.

Ryan Chippeaux’s 15 points paced the NAIA Bluejays (3-6). Tabor outrebounded South Dakota 43-38 but made only 4 of 5 free throws to 21 of 37 for the Coyotes.

South Dakota led 33-24 before Tabor ran off 10 unanswered points and took a 34-33 lead with 15:43 left.

But trailing 41-39, South Dakota scored seven points in a row, ending with Krogman’s basket, for a 46-41 edge with 10:53 to go.

Tabor closed within 64-63 with 1:18 left, but Krogman made two free throws and Allen Saint-Gelais converted a three-point play for the final margin.