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As Nate Wolters' back seized up, so did the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
A game of runs was one that Isaiah Canaan and the Racers could never quite get ahead of on their home court, as the Jackrabbits always found an open three or a bucket from Wolters to stem the tide. Wolters' three with 13:46 left in the game gave SDSU a 52-43 lead that seemed sustainable.
Unfortunately, Wolters found himself undercut on a drive to the lane and landed directly on his back with a sickeningly audible *thwack*. It happened in the first half, and at the time it was uncertain if he would return. He did come out to continue playing after intermission, but it was clear that his back was getting progressively stiffer.
It didn't help that every time Wolters found himself on the low block, a Murray State player took the opportunity to take a small shot at his back, as Wolters winced in pain. In the end, after the aforementioned Wolters three, the Racers finished the game on a 30-10 run, playing 5-on-4.5 as Wolters struggled to play something resembling competent defense and regularly got beaten off the dribble.
The unexpected overtime game three nights ago probably didn't do the Jackrabbits as a team any favors either, but 80 percent of Nate Wolters just isn't enough for SDSU to be a consistently dangerous team against a streak-shooting team like Murray State.
Fortunately for them, Nebraska-Omaha and the other Summit league teams they face in the conference tournament are no Murray State. For the Racers, on the other hand, it was good for their offense to get back on track, which should serve them well as they finish the season with home games against Tennessee Martin and Southeast Missouri State.