Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - Ross DeMasi scored a season-high 19 points on eight of 10 shooting to lead No. 24 Southwest Minnesota State to a 78-50 Northern Sun Intercollegiate victory over Concordia University, St. Paul Saturday night in Marshall.

SMSU improves to 22-5 overall, 14-3 NSIC, while CU drops to 11-13 overall, 9-8 NSIC.  The win was the Mustangs' 12th straight and their 22 wins on the season is the second most in school history.

The Mustangs dominated the inside game outscoring the Golden Bears 50-16 in paint and forced 17 turnovers, while committing just five turnovers.  

Taylor Huseby also had a big night for the Mustangs scoring 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting, while Nick Dale added 13 points off the bench connecting on six field goals in eight attempts.  

Ryan Krome pulled down a career-high eight rebounds, while DeMasi added six rebounds as the Mustangs outrebounded the Golden Bears 40-33 in the contest.

SMSU opened a close game midway through the first half opening up a one-point lead into a double digit lead.  The Mustangs held a 10-9 lead with 13:25 left in the half, before solid defense pushed the lead to 25-13 with four minutes and 21 seconds left in the opening half.  SMSU held CU to just two field goals from the 14:43 mark until there was just 2:41 remaining in the half.

The Mustangs built an 18-point, 35-17 lead with just under two minutes left in the first half before taking a 37-22 lead into halftime.  SMSU shot 45.7 percent from the field in the opening half and limited CU to just 31.8 percent shooting, including 2 of 11 from three-point range.

For the second straight night the Mustangs started the second half strong pushing the lead to 45-24 with 17:28 left on a dunk by Nick Dale and SMSU never looked back in beating CU for the fifth time in the last six meetings.

SMSU finished the night shooting 47.2 percent from the field and limited CU to just 34 percent, including 5 of 23 from three-point range.

The two victories this weekend keeps SMSU in sole possession of first place, one game ahead of Minnesota State, Mankato and Winona State.

SMSU will meet up with Minnesota State next Saturday, Feb. 21 in Mankato.  Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. at the Taylor Center.