BOX SCORE
FAYETTE, Iowa – Kevin Andrews scored a season-high 16 points, including connecting on three three-pointers to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a hard-fought 59-47 victory over Upper Iowa in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference basketball on Saturday night.
Andrews entered the game with just three three-pointers all season, but was a perfect 3 of 3 from behind the arc on Saturday and finished 5 of 7 from the field and scored 14 of his game-high points in the second half.
Scott Roehl added 15 points and nine rebounds for SMSU, while teammate Andrew Peschong rounded out the double-figure scoring for the Mustangs with 11 points, including 7 of 8 from the free throw line.
SMSU (9-4, 4-3 NSIC) never trailed in the game and finished the night shooting 37.3 percent (19 of 51) from the field, including 6 of 10 from three-point range. UIU (6-9, 3-5 NSIC), which suffered its fifth straight loss, shot just 38.3 percent (18 of 47) from the field and was just 1 of 8 from three-point range. UIU entered the game averaging 7.5 three-pointers per game.
Andrews and Roehl were the only two SMSU players to score field goals in the second half and were the only two Mustang players to score in the first 18 and a half minutes of the half.
SMSU started the game strong on both ends of the floor jumping out to a 16-4 lead with 13 minutes and 41 seconds left in the half and maintained a 16-6 lead with 9:48 on the clock as the Mustang defense limited UIU to just 3 of 15 shooting in the first 10 minutes.
The Mustang offense then went ice-cold as SMSU scored just two points in the next 10 minutes as Upper Iowa went on a 12-2 run to trim the lead to 18-16 with 3:23 remaining before DeAnthony Zanders snapped the UIU run with a three-pointer to give SMSU a 21-16 advantage with 2:53 on the clock. UIU answered with a basket to pull within three points, but Zanders closed the half with a jumper in the lane to give the Mustangs a 23-18 halftime lead.
SMSU shot just 35.7 percent (10 of 28) in the opening half and committed seven turnovers, while UIU was held to just 34.8 percent (8 of 23) shooting and committed eight turnovers.
SMSU held a five-point, 32-27 lead five minutes into the second half, before Roehl scored eight straight points and Andrews then added a three-pointer with 8:51 left in the game to push the SMSU lead to 43-35.
Upper Iowa would cut the lead to 43-39 with 7:40 remaining in the game before Andrews hit two free throws and Roehl scored a field goal to give SMSU a 47-39 advantage with 6:27 left and never looked back, including pushing the lead to double figures at 50-40 with 4:30 remaining on a shot-clock beating three-pointer by Andrews.
SMSU closed the game hitting clutch free throws to seal the victory, its fifth straight in the series. The Mustangs, who didn't shoot a free throw in the first half, finished 15 of 19 from the line.
Tucker Wentzien led the Peacocks with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Southwest Minnesota State, which completed its four-game conference road trip with a 2-2 record, returns home next weekend hosting St. Cloud State on Jan. 15 and Concordia on Jan. 16. The Mustangs will play six of its next eight games at the R/A Facility.
