SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Concordia-St. Paul men's basketball (6-2, 1-1 NSIC) bounced back in a big way on Friday night, scoring a 97-69 win at Sioux Falls (5-3, 1-1 NSIC) at Stewart Center.

Concordia looks to keep their momentum with a big clash in Marshall, Minnesota as head coach Matt Fletcher faces his alma mater, #18 Southwest Minnesota State (7-1, 2-0 NSIC). In a series that SMSU has controlled historically (33-16), Fletcher's Golden Bears have produced a 3-3 record against the Mustangs and CSP has won six of the last nine between the programs overall.

Tonight's win was another big one for CSP history, as Concordia notched its eighth all-time win over the Cougars in the 32nd meeting. More importantly, it was a win coming at a time when USF has had the series at its most lopsided, with USF carrying 13 of the previous 14 contests entering play.

But Fletcher's Golden Bears have now split the last four contests as he picks up his first career win at Stewart Center, where Concordia is now 3-12 all-time.

Sioux Falls took its only lead with the first bucket of the night, and after Concordia scored the next two, it would hold the lead the rest of the evening.

It didn't take long for the offense to get running, either, as CSP turned an 8-6 lead with just over 16 minutes to play in the half into a 28-10 margin, using a 12-0 run as part of a larger 20-4 stretch of basketball.

The 12-0 burst featured 5-5 CSP shooting with Skeete scoring five points including back-to-back three-pointers in tandem with Antwan Kimmons, while Ben Kopetzki bookended the run with layups. The five scores on five possessions were accompanied by four missed Cougar buckets and a turnover and happened in the blink of an eye, using just over two minutes of clock to take a 20-6 lead with 14 minutes left in the half.

The Cougars would get the next four points before four different Golden Bears scored during another 8-0 stretch that used up just over a minute and a half of time for a 28-10 lead with 11:31 to play in the half.

With Concordia scoring quickly and efficiently to amass its lead, that would tell the story of the night, as Concordia had five players in double-figures by halftime, including three different 20-point margins before heading into the locker room ahead 52-35.

Concordia shot 62.9 percent (22-35) in the first half while stifling the Cougars to 31.0 percent (13-42) shooting on their home nets, including 0-8 from the arc.

In the second half, Concordia would lead by as many as 32, putting the game away with defense as the Cougars shot just 33.3 percent (11-33) in the second half and finished the night 4-21 (30.8%) from the arc.

Concordia's offense would slow down, but just a little bit, finishing the contest shooting a strong 55.7 percent (39-70) from the field while burying 10 three-pointers at a 35.7 percent (10-28) clip.

Skeete led the way with 27 points on 11-16 shooting, 3-5 three-point shooting, and 13 rebounds, adding three steals and a pair of assists.

Kopetzki finished with 18 points, knocking down 8-of-14 from teh floor and adding three assists and three steals.

Kimmons flirted with a triple-double, scoring 12 points on eight shots (5-8) while adding 2-4 three-point shooting. He dished out nine assists and collected eight rebounds.

On the interior, Cade Meyer put up 14 points on 6-9 shooting and navigated his way around foul trouble to contribute 20 minutes. Ian Sluice rounded out the starting five by hitting a pair of three-pointers.

The bench effort was led by Reid Patterson's seven points, hitting a three-pointer and knocking down all four of his free throw attempts.

Kenji Scales led Sioux Falls with 12 points off the bench while Taylon Ashley led the starters with 10 points. Brandon Hrncir also contributed 10 points off the Cougars bench.