Denver hangs on for 76-71 win over South Dakota

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) Marcus Byrd scored 22 points with 10-for-16 shooting and Denver held on Sunday to win its third straight with a 76-71 win over South Dakota.

Joe Rosga added 16 points, including three 3-pointers, for Denver (14-14, 6-9 Summit), which shot 54 percent from the field and hit 9 of 15 from long range.

Denver took the lead for good late in the first half with an 8-0 burst that made it 26-20 and included a 3-pointer from Thomas Neff, who finished with nine points. The Pioneers then held on late in the second half as South Dakota rallied.

The Coyotes (13-16, 4-10) used a 10-0 run sparked by Tre Burnette's 3-pointer to trim the gap to four, 68-64, with 45 seconds left before being slowed by Jake Pemberton's free throws to stretch Denver's lead back to six.

D.J. Davis and Tre Burnette led South Dakota with 14 points each.