Box Score
WAYNE, Neb. – Southwest Minnesota State, the 14th ranked team in the nation and No. 1 team in the NCAA Central region, clinched a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season championship with a thrilling 54-51 road victory over Wayne State on Wednesday night in Wayne, Neb.
The championship is just the second in SMSU's 42nd season of men's basketball. SMSU holds a one-game lead over Winona State and can clinch the outright championship with a victory over Northern State at home on Saturday or a loss by Winona State at St. Cloud State.
The victory for SMSU was its 14th straight and improves its record to 24-5 overall, 16-3 NSIC. Wayne State falls to 10-16 overall, 6-13 NSIC and has its two-game winning streak snapped. It was just the third ever win for SMSU in Wayne, Neb., which is now 3-20 all-time at Rice Auditorium.
SMSU, which never trailed in the game, held on the victory despite shooting just 33.3 percent in the second half. SMSU, which doesn't have a player averaging double figures in scoring, held true to that form tonight as Nick Dale and Scott Roehl led the team with eight points each, while Andy Beilke, Andrew Peschong and Ross DeMasi each chipped in with seven points.
SMSU started the game on fire connecting on six of its first eight shots to build a 15-2 lead in the opening five minutes. The SMSU defense was also strong in the early going as the Wildcats missed their first seven shots of the game and didn't hit on their first field goal until 14:20 remaining in the half.
The Mustangs then went cold from the field and scored just two points in the next five minutes as the Wildcats trimmed the lead to 17-9 with 9:42 remaining in the half. SMSU answered back and pushed the lead back to double digits as Scott Roehl drilled back-to-back field goals to make the score 23-11 with six minutes left in the half.
SMSU finished the first half shooting 12 of 30 from the field (40.0) but made just six of its last 22 shots in the half. Ross DeMasi led SMSU with seven first half points, while DeMasi and DeAnthoy Zanders each led with four rebounds.
SMSU maintained the lead into the early stages of the second half and extended the lead to 42-31 with 11:29 remaining on a Kevin Andrews field goal. The Mustangs continued to lead and held a 43-34 lead with eight minutes left before WSC rallied with an 8-2 run to pull within 45-42 with 5:36 left. Andrews then ended the WSC run connecting on two free throws to give SMSU a 47-42 lead with 4:35 on the clock.
Wayne State cut the lead to 47-44 with four minutes left but neither team could score in the next two and half minutes before SMSU's Krome broke the scoreless drought with a lay-up to give SMSU a 49-44 lead with 1:44 left. WSC answered with a three-pointer to cut the lead to 49-47, before Beilke came through with a drive and score with 1:09 on the clock to push the lead to 51-47.
The Wildcats wouldn't going away and scored with 41 seconds remaining to trim the lead to 51-49, but DeAnthony Zanders hit two free throws with 38 seconds left to make it a four-point game. WSC scored again with 22 seconds remaining to make it a two-point lead at 53-51, before Kevin Andrews was fouled with 18 seconds left, but made just one of two free throws to make the score 54-51. WSC had two chances to tie the game in the final seconds but missed two three-pointers as SMSU hung on for the victory.
SMSU will conclude the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 28, hosting Northern State starting at 8 p.m.
