Box Score

MARSHALL, MINN.: Southwest Minnesota State opened the second half with an 18-0 run and went on to earn a big 86-61 road victory over Minnesota Duluth on Sunday afternoon in Duluth, Minn.

Defensively for the Mustangs, it was a tale of two halves as UMD shot 71.4 percent in the first half in building a 45-37 halftime lead.  However, SMSU picked its defensive pressure up in the second half, holding the Bulldogs to just 20.0 percent shooting from the field. The Mustangs shot well both halves, converting 55.6 percent from the field in the first half and 64.0 percent in the second.

The Mustangs stormed out of the gate in the second half scoring the first 18 points of the period and hitting their first six shots in the first five minutes and never looked back to cruise to the victory. After a defensive stop to open the second half, Travis Krenske buried his first of three second half three-pointers. Trailing by one point just over a minute into the second half, Nick Dale converted two free throws to give the Mustangs a lead they would not give up. Krenske, Dale and Kevin Andrews carried the team on the offensive end in the second half, combining for 34 of SMSU's 49 points during the final period.

Andrews scored a career-high 19 points for SMSU on a perfect 8 of 8 shooting from the field.  Matt Fletcher added 18 points and hit on four three-pointers.  Krenske, who scored just three first half points, finished the evening with 17 points while connecting on four three-pointers.  Ross DeMasi rounded out the double figure scoring with 12 points while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Dale had nine points on the afternoon, all coming in the second half.

After outrebounding the Bulldogs 35-29, the Mustangs have now outrebounded their opponents in every game this season.

SMSU has now won three straight games and improves to 7-3 overall.  UMD drops its second straight game and falls to 7-5.  SMSU will return home on Thursday, Dec. 20 to host St. Cloud State beginning at 7 p.m.