Tyler Cain had 16 points and 17 rebounds to lead South Dakota to a 76-71 victory over Texas-Pan American in the Great West Conference tournament semifinals Friday night.
Jake Thomas had 19 points and Kendall Cutler 18 for the Coyotes (21-9), the Great West's regular-season champions. They advanced to the championship game Saturday night against the winner of the NJIT-Houston Baptist game.
The Great West Conference does not receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
South Dakota rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half. It was still 61-50 in favor of Texas-Pan American when the Coyotes pulled even with a 13-2 run to tie it at 63. But South Dakota didn't go ahead to stay until Cutler's layup with 2:49 to play made it 70-69.
Aaron Urbanus led the Broncs (6-27) with 15 points. Jared Maree added 11.
