BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State closed out its exhibition season on Wednesday night with a solid 79-62 victory over Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in Marshall.  The game for DWU, ranked No. 20 in NAIA, was a regular season game.  DWU suffered its first loss of the season and falls to 4-1 on the season.

SMSU held a five-point, 35-30 halftime lead, before building a 10-point lead at 52-42 with 14 minutes and 31 seconds left in the game.

DWU slowly closed the gap and pulled to within 61-60 with 4:12 left in the game as SMSU was held scoreless for over four minutes.  SMSU freshman Vinard Birch ended the scoreless streak with a three-point play with 3:46 remaining and followed it up with a lay-up 30 seconds later to extend the lead to 66-60 and the Mustangs never looked back.

Birch finished the evening with 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting and was one of five SMSU players to score in double figures.  Scott Roehl recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.  William Giddings added 12 points off the bench, while Jordan Miller and Lavione West each chippped in with 11 points.

SMSU begins the regular season on Sunday afternoon with a non-conference game at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo., starting at 3 p.m.