Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - The No. 9-ranked Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball team shot a season low 31.1 percent from the field and fell to Northern State 73-63 in the quarterfinal round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament Wednesday night in Marshall.  It was the first time ever in the tournament's nine-year history that a No. 1 seed lost in the quarterfinals.

NSU improves to 19-9, while SMSU drops to 25-6. The loss spoiled a 15-win game streak for SMSU.

The Mustangs now await seedings for the upcoming NCAA Central Region tournament which will be announced on Sunday night at 8 p.m.  SMSU began the week ranked No. 1 in the region.

Northern State will now advance to the NSIC tournament semifinals and will play the winner of No. 4 seed Minnesota State and No. 5 Minnesota Duluth.

NSU shot 52.1 percent from the field and made 20 of 23 free throws in the contest.  Kevin Ratzsch led the Wolves with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Kyle Schwan poured in a career-high 20 points. 

The Wolves earned the victory by limiting the Mustangs to just 20.7 percent shooting in the first half (6 of 29) and forcing seven turnovers.  SMSU added to the first half struggles connecting on just 9 of 19 free throws in the opening half.

SMSU scored the game's first point, but after that it was all NSU as the Wolves built a double digit lead in the first half, extending the lead to 34-19 with two minutes left, before taking a 36-22 halftime lead.  NSU shot 51.7 percent in the first half.

SMSU tried to cut into the lead in the second half half but NSU had an answer for every SMSU run.  SMSU trailed 46-30 with 14 minutes, 38 seconds left in the game, before putting together a run to trim the lead to 60-53 with 2:50 remaining.  Following a missed jumper by NSU's Kyle Schwan, SMSU's Ryan Krome attempted a three-pointer that would've cut the lead to four, but the shot was missed and NSU cleared the rebound.  SMSU had a chance to cut the lead to a one possession game with 90 seconds left by a missed three-pointer by Andy Beilke was missed and once again NSU was able to grab the rebound and secure the victory.

SMSU was led by Scott Roehl, who scored a career-high 16 points, while adding eight rebounds in 16 minutes of action.  Andy Beilke added 10 points, while Ross DeMasi recorded nine points and nine rebounds.  SMSU sophomore Taylor Huseby missed the game with sickness.

Southwest Minnesota State once again will found out where it is seeded in the upcoming NCAA tournament on Sunday night at 8:30 p.m.  A selection party sponsored by the Mustang Booster Club will be held for the public free of charge at the SMSU Conference Center starting at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night.