BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Trent Carlson connected on a 3-pointer with 1:25 left in the game to snap a 64-all tie and help lift Southwest Minnesota State to a 72-66 victory over Upper Iowa on Friday night in Marshall.

Carlson connected on three 3-pointers in the final 10 minutes to finish the game with nine points. Jordan Miller and Scott Roehl each led the Mustangs (9-9, 6-8 NSIC) with 11 points. Miller added a game-high six assists, while Roehl finished with a career-high five assists.

Matt Lesan paced the Peacocks (6-12, 5-8 NSIC) with 20 points on 5 of 9 shooting.

SMSU started the game with a strong defensive effort, limiting UIU to just eight points in the first 11 minutes, in building an 18-8 lead.

The Peacocks then started to heat up from the field and also got to the free throw line in the final minutes to cut the deficit to 32-31, before a Vinard Birch basket with five seconds left in the half pushed SMSU's lead to 34-31 at halftime.

UIU connected on 9 of 14 free throws in the first half, forced nine SMSU turnovers and held a 13-11 rebound advantage.

In the second half, UIU tied the game five different times, but could never take the lead as SMSU had an answer for every UIU run.

With the score tied at 56 with 6:51 remaining, SMSU used a 3-pointer by Carlson, a three-point play by Miller and a field goal by Nick Smith to take a 64-56 advantage with 4:35 remaining in the game.

The Peacocks then answered with their own 8-0 run capped by two free throws by Leasn with 1:41 left in the game, before Carlson's basket put SMSU up for good. Following a missed UIU field goal, Taylor Huseby gave SMSU a 69-64 lead with 32 seconds remaining and SMSU connected on three of four free throws to seal the victory.

SMSU ended the evening shooting 56 percent (28 of 50) from the field, including 4 of 12 from 3-point range. UIU held a 31-23 rebound advantage, including grabbing 11 offensive boards. It's just the third time SMSU has been outrebounded this season.

Southwest Minnesota State, which has now won three straight, will conclude its four-game homestand tomorrow night taking on Winona State for “Hawaiian Night” starting at 8 p.m.