Box Score
BISMARCK, N.D. – Andy Beilke connected on a three-pointer with 28 seconds remaining to lift Southwest Minnesota State to a 66-63 conference victory over Mary Saturday night in Bismarck, N.D.
SMSU improves to 7-3 (1-2 NSIC); Mary drops to 2-7 (1-3 NSIC).
Beilke was spectacular in the victory, netting a career-high and game-high 18 points off five of five shooting from behind the arc.
Ross DeMasi had 11 points to go along with a game-high 11 boards, on his way to his ninth career double-double. Scott Roehl came off the bench to add 10 points, while Andrew Peschong chipped in another nine to along with eight assists, tying a career high.
In a tightly played first half, the Mustangs and Marauders traded leads until SMSU orchestrated a late run sparked by a pair of Beilke three-pointers.
Beilke unloaded with four triples in as many attempts in the first half, including one just before the break to give the Mustangs a 40-34 lead at intermission.
The second half played out much like the first as the two teams were neck and neck, sporting a host of lead changes. The Mustangs held just a two-point lead with 5:19 remaining when Jordan Wilhelm sank a long three-pointer to put the Marauders up by one.
On the next Mary possession a tightly guarded Danny Sandvig knocked down a jumper from the left baseline to give the Marauders a three-point lead—their biggest of the second half at that point.
The Mary lead stretched to five after a pair of free throws, but Roehl came up big with a three-point play with just over three minutes left to play to pull the Mustangs to back within two at 62-60.
With the score 63-61 and just under 30 seconds remaining, Beilke drilled a long three-pointer from the left win to give the Mustangs a one point advantage.
On the ensuing possession the Marauders failed to convert on three shot attempts in the lane but managed to grab one final offensive rebound and call a timeout with 13.2 seconds remaining.
SMSU needed just one stop and Andrew Peschong delivered, grabbing a rebound after two missed Marauder field goals in the paint and drawing the foul to go to the line with 3.7 seconds left. The junior hit both free throws, giving the Mustangs the three-point victory.
The Marauders were led by Jordan Engelhardt's 16 points and Wilhelm's seven boards.
The Mustangs return to on Monday, Dec. 22 when they travel to South Dakota for a 7 p.m. non-conference matchup.
