BOCA RATON, FLA.:  Lynn University connected on 12 of 14 free throws in overtime and limited Southwest Minnesota State to just 2 of 12 shooting from the field in the extra frame to earn an 83-76 overtime victory on Saturday night in Boca Raton, Fla.

The victory for Lynn was its third straight and improves its overall record to 7-4.  SMSU with the loss has its four-game winning streak snapped and drops its overall record to 8-4.

Lynn started the game on an 8-0 run before SMSU rallied back and tied the game at 21-21 on a tip-in basket by Nick Dale.  Trailing 25-24 with just over two minutes left in the half SMSU took its first lead of the game on a three-pointer by Travis Krenske.  SMSU held Lynn scoreless for the final 2:46 of the half and took a 29-25 halftime lead.

Lynn came out strong in the second half and built a pair of 10-point leads before SMSU rallied to send the game into overtime.  Lynn held a 50-46 lead with 8:45 left in regulation before extending the lead to 58-48 with 7:10 in the half.  The Fighting Knights continued to hold a 10-point lead at 61-51 with just over five minutes remaining in regulation before SMSU put together its best stretch of the game to send the contest in an extra session.  Krenske drilled a three-pointer to pull SMSU to within 61-54.  Ross DeMasi trimmed the lead to 61-56 before Lynn responded with a field goal to push the lead to 63-56 with four minutes left.  Krenske then stepped up big once again for the Mustangs as he drilled another three-pointer to cut the lead to 63-59 with 3:10 remaining.  Both teams went scoreless for the next minute and a half before SMSU's Matt Fletcher hit his first three-pointer of the second to pull SMSU to within 63-62 with 1:30 on the clock.

Lynn would make one of two free throws with just over a minute left to take a 64-62 lead.  Krenske then came through again with a basket in the lane with 46 seconds left to tie the score at 64-64.  Lynn's Ed Millard then made one of two free throws to regain the lead at 65-64 before Andy Beilke was fouled with 26 seconds left.  Beilke made one of two free throws to tie the game at 65-65 and setting up a final shot for Lynn.  On the final possession of the second half Lynn's Millard went up for a shot with two seconds left but his shot attempt was blocked by Ross DeMasi to send the game to overtime.

Lynn scored the first three points of the overtime before Fletcher drilled a three-pointer to tie the score at 68-68.  DeMasi made two free throws with 3:43 left to give SMSU its only lead of overtime but Lynn came back to hit critical free throws in the final minutes and held SMSU to just one field goal the rest of the game.

SMSU finished the game shooting 25 of 67 from the field (37.3) including 10 of 29 from three-point range.   The Mustangs committed a season-high 20 turnovers in the game which led to 24 points for Lynn. 

Lynn was led by Millard who scored a career-high 31 points and also led the team with 12 rebounds. 

Krenske scored a season-high 21 points to pace the Mustang offense while Fletcher added 14 points.  Beilke played a career-high 31 minutes and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.  SMSU guard Ryan Krome missed most of the second half and all of overtime with an injury.

SMSU outrebounded Lynn 43-41 but allowed 22 offensive rebounds.

SMSU will return to Northern Sun Conference play next Friday, Jan. 3 at defending league champion Winona State beginning at 8 p.m.