Box Score
ANAHEIM, CALIF. - Southwest Minnesota State shot 54.3 percent from the field and played outstanding team defense limiting Humboldt State (Calif.) to just 27 percent shooting in earning a 103-52 victory at the Disney West Coast Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif.
SMSU is now 2-0 on the season, while HSU, which won the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship last season and advanced to the NCAA tournament, dropped to 0-2 in the young season.
It was SMSU's first 100-point game since Dec. 1, 2003, the third time under head coach Greg Stemen and the 38th time in school history.
SMSU played near perfect basketball in the opening half shooting 48.6 percent from the field including connecting on 8 of 15 three-point field goal attempts. The Mustang defense held Humboldt State without a field goal for the first eight minutes in builiding a 13-5 lead with 12 minutes left in the half.
SMSU would continue to dominate on both ends of the floor in the opening half pushin the lead to 22-6 with 10 minutes left in the half and would open a lead by as many 20 points at 33-13 with just over four minutes left in the half before closing the half on a 15-6 run to take a commanding 48-19 halftime lead.
Senior Andy Beilke carried the offense in the opening half for SMSU as he connected on 5 of 7 shots including four three-pointers to score 16 points in just nine minutes in the first half. The Mustang defense held the Lumberjacks to just 5 of 29 shooting (17.2 percent) including 0 of 8 from three-point range in the first half.
Southwest Minnesota State made sure Humboldt State had no chance to making a second half comeback as the Mustangs opened the half on an 11-0 run to build a 59-19 lead and cruised from there including building the lead to as many 56 points at 96-40 with just under four minutes to play.
All 13 players who played in the game for SMSU scored, with junior Jon DeRock leading the way with a game-high 21 points in just 16 minutes. DeRock made 8 of 11 shots from the field including 4 of 7 from three-point range in just his second game in a Mustang uniform. Beilke finished with 16 points in just 14 minutes while junior Kevin Andrews added 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting including drilling three three-pointers.
Senior Ross DeMasi grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for his second straight double figure rebounding game this season and his ninth of his career. SMSU ended the game dominating the boards for the second straight game finishing with a 53-32 rebound advantage including pulling down 17 offensive rebounds.
SMSU finished the evening connecting on 15 three-pointers, the first time SMSU has scored that many three-pointers since making 16 versus Minnesota-Morris on Feb. 8, 2003. Tonight was also the program's first 50-point victory since defeating Trinity Bible College (N.D.) 98-44 on Feb. 18, 2002.
Southwest Minnesota State will conclude the three-day classic on Sunday, Nov. 9 taking on regional opponent Ft. Lewis College (Colo.) with tip-off slated for 1 p.m. CST at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.
