MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State shot 52.2 percent from the field, its highest since Dec. 17, to grind out a 64-55 victory over MSU Moorhead in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference basketball on Friday night in Marshall.

SMSU connected on 24 of 46 field goals and held a 33-23 rebound margin in earning its third straight victory.

Taylor Huseby led SMSU with 18 points on 7 of 8 shooting in just 22 minutes of action, while Scott Roehl added 15 points and a game-high seven rebounds.

SMSU led for much of the game's first 10 minutes before MSUM tied the score at 14-14 with eight minutes and 23 seconds on the clock.  The Mustangs then reeled off six straight points, capped by a 3-pointer by Kevin Andrews at 6:34 to give SMSU a 20-14 lead.

MSUM, which hit six 3-pointers in the first half, then connected on three straight 3-pointers to build a 23-20 lead with five minutes left in the half. 

SMSU rallied back and took a 29-28 halftime lead behind 54.5 percent shooting from the field in the opening half.

Huseby paced the Mustangs with 12 first half points on 5 of 6 shooting, while also grabbing four rebounds.

The Mustangs built on the one-point halftime lead starting the second half on a 11-4 run to build a 40-32 lead with 13:42 left in the game following back-to-back baskets by Andrew Peschong and Nick Dale.

MSUM kept it close and trailed 50-47 with 8:39 remaining before SMSU answered with a 9-2 run over the next three and a half minutes to take a 59-49 lead with 4:53 remaining and the Mustangs never looked back.

Jake Driscoll led the Dragons with 25 points on 7 of 18 shooting, including drilling four 3-pointers.

Southwest Minnesota State will conclude its four-game homestand tomorrow night taking on Minnesota, Crookston starting at 8:05 p.m.