BEMDIJI, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State earned its first victory of the season on Saturday night with an 87-76 win over Minot State at the InnKeepers Beaver Classic in Bemidji, Minn.

SMSU (1-2) used a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double figures.  Matt Zager scored 16 points to pace SMSU, while Tramel Barnes added 15 points and seven rebounds.   Vinard Birch (14), Jordan Miller (12) and Nick Smith (11) rounded out SMSU's double-digit scorers.  Smith grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

SMSU took its first lead of the game at 5-2 three minutes into the game on a 3-pointer by Michael Appel and never trailed again in building a 38-25 halftime lead.

The Mustangs would maintain a double-digit lead for much of the first 10 minutes of the half, including building a 16-point, 63-47 lead with 10:30 left in the game following a 3-pointer by Miller.

The Beavers (1-6) wouldn't go away and trimmed the lead to seven points with 56 seconds remaining in the game, but the Mustangs made free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

SMSU outrebounded MSU 43-28 and held a 30 to 9 advantage in bench scoring.

Josh Johnson led Minot State with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Southwest Minnesota State will return to action next weekend opening conference play at Augustana and Wayne State.  SMSU will take on Augustana, the preseason favorite in the NSIC, on Friday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m.