Saturday’s Showdown Series contest features world record attempt

VERMILLION – Competition during the fourth year of the South Dakota Showdown Series presented by South Dakota Corn resumes Saturday when the South Dakota’s men’s basketball team hosts South Dakota State at 4 p.m. inside the DakotaDome. It’s the second game of a doubleheader that includes the Coyote women hosting IUPUI at 1:30 p.m.

South Dakota and South Dakota State, along with South Dakota Corn, have partnered with Feeding South Dakota to provide more than 330,000 meals to South Dakotans since the series’ inception. To aid in the effort, a cash donation box will be available at all Aramark concession stands Saturday inside the DakotaDome. There are also collection boxes in all Vermillion and Brookings First Bank & Trust branches and online at www.bankeasy.com.

“The Showdown Series allows South Dakota and South Dakota State to place agriculture in the spotlight during head-to-head athletic competitions,” said USD athletic director David Herbster. “Sportsmanship, academic achievement and philanthropy are key components of the Showdown Series, which we hope to instill in our student-athletes and fans.”

“The competition between the state’s top two athletic rivals is heating up and this weekend’s Showdown Series game is a big one,” said Teddi Mueller, South Dakota Corn’s industry affairs director. “It’s impressive that the universities are building strong reputations nationwide in Division I sports and, at the same time, the student-athletes are excelling in the classroom. We’re proud of the way the student bodies at both schools have demonstrated good sportsmanship and made a commitment to raise money for Feeding South Dakota.”

World record attempt

A University of South Dakota student will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for most T-shirts put on in one minute during the first half of Saturday’s men’s game. The current world record stands at 31 shirts.

For each T-shirt the USD student is able to put on, South Dakota Corn will donate $100 to Feeding South Dakota. If the world record is broken, South Dakota Corn will donate $10,000 plus $100 per completed shirt to Feeding South Dakota.

South Dakota State currently leads South Dakota 5-3 in this year’s competition. The winner of Saturday’s basketball game will earn the next point. More information on the South Dakota Showdown Series can be found at www.sdcornshowdown.com.