Rolling Mustangs Complete 3-1 Weekend

WHITEWATER, WIS.: The Southwest Minnesota State wheelchair basketball team finished its second weekend of competition with a 3-1 record this past weekend. Friday, the Mustangs defeated the University of Alabama 61-40 and the University of Arizona 52-48. SMSU suffered its only defeat of the weekend Saturday morning, by the score of 62-47 to Texas-Arlington. The Mustangs were able to finish on a positive note handling the University of Missouri 61-32. This brings the Rolling Mustangs' season record to 4-4.

The weekend got off to a great start with the Mustangs attacking the younger Alabama team with a strong floor game. The team effort was led by Nathan Peitz with 24 points. Evan Thorn added 12 points and 5 assists. Nathan Carruth had nine points and six assists, while Jared Riggle and Christian Ekunwe each chipped in with eight points. At the final horn the score board read 61-40 in favor of the Mustangs. "This was a great start to the weekend and truly showed how hard the team had been working this last month to improve on all aspects of the game," co-head coach Paul Weiland said.

Next SMSU took on the University of Arizona. This game started slowly for the Mustangs with Arizona grabbing a two point halftime lead 25-23. The Mustangs were able to come back in the second half based on a balanced scoring attack. Evan Thorn led the Mustangs with a double-double, scoring 15 points and ripping down 17 rebounds. Nathan Carruth chipped in 15 points of his own while adding six assists. Meanwhile Nathan Peitz add 12 points and four assists. In the end the Mustangs achieved victory with the score of 52-48. This wrapped up the strong opening day performance and set the stage to take on the University of Texas Arlington on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday began with a battle against the perennial power house University of Texas Arlington. Playing their best defensive basketball of the year the Mustangs were able to hold UTA to a three point halftime lead, putting the Mustangs down 25-22. In the second half SMSU was unable to withstand UTA's strong interior play. In the end the Mustangs lost their only game of the weekend 62-47. The game leaders included Nathan Peitz and Christian Ekunwe with 17 and 13 points, respectively.

To wrap up the weekend the Mustangs had a convincing victory over the University of Missouri 61-32. The Mustangs were able to achieve this once again with a balancing scoring attack with three players reaching double figures in scoring. Nathan Carruth and Nathan Peitz each poured in 16 points while Evan Thorn racked up his second double-double of the weekend with 13 points and 11 rebounds. This was a game in which SMSU was able to display its unselfish and team-oriented style of play.

"This was a great weekend for us in which we were able to prove to the conference just how much we had worked to improve since our 1-3 opening weekend," Weiland said.

SMSU's next competition will be January 18-19 at the University of Edinboro, Pa.

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