Rolling Mustangs Split Over the Weekend

EDINBORO, PA.: The Southwest Minnesota State wheelchair basketball team went 2-2 this past weekend, defeating the University of Illinois women and Edinboro and losing to Illinois' men and Wisconsin-Whitewater in Central Intercollegiate Conference action. The Rolling Mustangs are now 6-6 on the season, with all games coming in conference play.

On Friday versus the Illinois women, took a 36-19 halftime to cruise to a 61-42 victory. Senior Nate Peitz scored a game-high 23 points. His point total was one point short of tying a season-high as well. Evan Thorn was three assists shy of a triple-double, finishing with his fourth double-double of the year with 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Thorn connected on 8-of-11 from the field. Christian Ekunwe also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with four assists.

In the second game on Friday against the Illinois men, SMSU was tied at 19-19 at the half, but Illinois outscored the Mustangs 37-16 in the second half for a 56-35 victory for the Illini. Peitz led Southwest with 11 points. Jared Riggle was second in scoring with eight points, hitting 4-of-7 from the field.

SMSU played a third game on Friday against the defending national champions, Wisconsin-Whitewater. UWW coasted to a 73-42 victory over a tired Mustang team. Peitz once again was a bright spot, scoring a team-high 12 points. Nathaniel Carruth scored nine points.

On Saturday, SMSU played host Edinboro (Pa.) and won 56-42 after a strong second half. The Mustangs led by just two points at half, but outscored Edinboro 29-17 in the second half. Carruth led four Mustangs in double figures with 16 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists. Peitz and Ekunwe each scored 13, while Thorn chipped in with 10 points. Ekunwe added 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the weekend and third of the season. Southwest converted a season-high 15-of-19 free throws to aid the victory.

The Rolling Mustangs are back in action on Feb. 1-2 with five games in Columbia, Mo.

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