Box Score
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Southwest Minnesota State, ranked 19th in the country, rebounded from its first loss of the season last night, with an 80-62 victory over Upper Iowa on Sunday afternoon at the NSIC HoopsFest in Sioux Falls, S.D.
SMSU, which was outrebounded for the first time in five games last night, dominated the glass on Sunday, holding a 38-20 rebound advantage including pulling down 13 offensive rebounds.
The victory lifts SMSU to 5-1 overall, while UIU drops to 1-4 on the season with two losses to Division I schools.
SMSU never trailed in the game jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes. SMSU held a 21-18 lead with 8:35 left in the first half before going on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to push the lead to 31-18 with 5:35 remaining. Highlighting the run was a basket and free throw by Taylor Huseby, a three-pointer by DeAnthony Zanders and a field goal by Andrew Peschong.
Upper Iowa would cut into the lead at 33-26 with just over two minutes remaining in the half before the Mustangs closed the half with a 6-2 run to build a 39-28 halftime lead.
SMSU shot 50 percent from the field in the opening half and limited UIU to just 32.3 percent shooting. The Mustangs held a 27-10 advantage in rebounds in the first half with Ross DeMasi and Nick Dale each recording seven rebounds.
The Mustangs pushed the lead to 15 on two occasions early in the second half before the Peacocks would rally and cut the lead to 51-43 with 12:55 left in the second half. SMSU held a 56-46 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the game before SMSU's Andy Beilke hit a jumper to push the lead back to 58-46. After an UIU?basket, Beilke connected on his lone three-pointer of the game to give SMSU a 61-48 lead with 8:30 remaining in the contest and the Mustangs never looked back as the lead never hit single digits for the remainder of the game.
SMSU shot a blistering 60 percent (15 of 25) from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting 54.5 percent (30 of 55) including 50 percent (8 of 16) from three-point range.
Kevin Andrews scored a season-high 17 points to lead the Mustang offense as he drilled 6 of 8 shots including two three-pointers. Peschong added 12 points and six assists while Jon DeRock (10)?and Ryan Krome (11) rounded out the Mustang double figuring scoring.
DeMasi pulled down a game-high nine rebounds while Dale added eight rebounds.
Dan Bestul led Upper Iowa with 13 points. Matt Lesan, UIU's leading scorer, was held to just five points on 1 of 8 shooting. Lesan scored 31 points on Saturday in a blowout victory over Bemidji State.
SMSU will continue non-conference action on Wednesday, Dec. 3 for its regular season home opener versus Northwestern College (Iowa). Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at the R/A Facility.
