Box Score
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Southwest Minnesota State rallied from a nine-point second half deficit to earn a 70-65 exhibition victory over NCAA Division I South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D.
SMSU trailed 53-44 with 11:28 left in the game before rallying and taking its first lead of the game with just over three minutes left in the game and never looked back in earning the victory.
SMSU started the game strong connecting on 7 of its first 12 shots including two three-pointers as the two teams battled to a 17-17 tie in the game's first eight minutes.
SDSU then stiffened on defense and held SMSU to just six points in the next six minutes to build a 29-23 lead with 4:52 remaining in the opening half.
Turnovers hurt SMSU in the first half as they committed 11 in the opening half while SDSU turned the ball over just twice.
SMSU shot 50 percent from the field in the opening half with Andy Beilke leading the way with 10 points on 4 of 5 shooting including one three-pointer. Nick Dale added six points and six rebounds in the opening half.
SDSU continued to add to its lead in the early going of the second half taking a nine-point lead at 49-40 with 12:37 left and a 53-44 lead with 11:20 remaining before SMSU answered back with an 8-0 run to pull within 53-52 with 8:30 left in the second half.
SDSU pushed the lead back to 59-54 with 6:37 left before Andrew Peschong drilled a three-pointer with 6:18 remaining to cut the lead to 59-57.
SMSU trailed 63-60 before going on a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the game. Ross DeMasi hit a free throw to pull the Mustangs to within 63-61 before Beilke hit his first field goal of the second, a three-pointer from the top of the key, to give SMSU the lead for the first time in the second half at 64-63 with 3:14 on the clock. Dale extended the lead just a minute with a thunderous dunk to on a great pass from Jon DeRock to push the lead to 66-63 with just over two minutes left in the game.
SDSU would trim the lead to 66-65 with 1:40 left in the game before SMSU would close out the game on a 4-0 run to seal the victory. DeRock connected on a jumper to make it 68-65 with 1:05 left and then the Mustang defense took over forcing SDSU to miss a pair of three-pointers in its next two possessions before DeRock came away with a rebound with four seconds left and sealed the win with two free throws.
Peschong led the way for SMSU with a team-high 15 points on 5 of 6 shooting while Beilke added 13 points connecting on 5 of 11 shots.
SMSU finished the night shooting 39.7 percent from the field (23 of 58) including 4 of 16 from three-point range (25.0). SMSU finished with a 45-38 rebound advantage including grabbing 20 offensive rebounds.
Southwest Minnesota State will open the regular season this weekend at the Disney West Coast Classic in Anaheim, Calif. SMSU will open the three-day classic taking on Alaska-Anchorage on Friday, Nov. 7 with tip-off slated for 2 p.m. CST.
