BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, MINN. - Southwest Minnesota State shot a season-high 82.6 percent from the free throw line and earned a hard-fought 75-68 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference over Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday night in Marshall.

The victory moves SMSU to 10-4 overall, 3-2 NSIC, while UMC drops to 2-11 overall, 0-6 NSIC.  It was SMSU's 10th straight victory over UMC.

Southwest Minnesota State entered the game shooting just 59.3 percent from the free throw line, but connected on 6 of 7 free throws in the first half and 13 of 16 in the second half.

SMSU took its first lead of the game at 15-14 with 12:22 left in the opening half on a Jon DeRock three-pointer.  The Mustangs extended the lead to 10 points on two occasions midway through the half before UMC rallied to trim the lead to four points at 37-33, before SMSU settled for a 39-33 halftime lead.

SMSU jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first two and a half minutes of the second half at 46-35, but UMC rallied back to tie the score at 54-54 with 11 minutes in the game on a three-pointer by Matt Pelzer.

The Mustangs once again took control and went on a 12-2 run over the next six minutes to take a 66-56 lead with 5:17 left in the contest.  The Golden Eagles didn't quit though and came back once again to cut the Mustang lead to 66-62 with 2:40 remaining, before SMSU's Ross DeMasi scored on a lay-up with 2:09 left and connected on two free throws with 1:44 remaining to extend the lead to 70-62.

UMC scored with 1:04 remaining in the game to pull within 70-64, but SMSU answered back making five of six free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

DeMasi led SMSU with a season-high 16 points on 7 of 11 shooting while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds.  DeRock chipped in with 15 points including connecting on four three-pointers.  Ryan Krome added 14 points and had five assists.

UMC outrebounded SMSU 39-29 and had 15 offensive rebounds.  It was just the second time an opponent has outrebounded the Mustangs this season.

SMSU will continue its four-game homestand next Friday, Jan. 9 hosting defending NSIC and NCAA champion Winona State.  Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.