BOX SCORE

DULUTH, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State snapped an 11-game road losing streak, including 10 in a row in conference play, with a 79-67 victory over Minnesota Duluth on Saturday night in Duluth, Minn.

SMSU (12-13, 9-12 NSIC) finished the game shooting 54.5 percent from the field (30 of 55) and held a 36-27 rebound advantage. The victory moves SMSU into sole possession of eighth place in the NSIC standings.  SMSU can clinch a spot in the upcoming NSIC tournament with a home victory over conference-leading Minnesota State, Mankato next Saturday night.

Scott Roehl led SMSU with 18 points, while Trent Carlson added a season-high 14 points. Taylor Huseby chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds for his double-double of the season.

Ryan Rasumussen, UMD's leading scorer, led the Bulldogs with 17 points, but scored just three points in the second half.

Both teams shot red-hot from the field in the opening half, combining for 12 3-point field goals on 19 attempts.

Miller scored nine of SMSU's first 11 points as the Mustangs built an early 11-6 lead, before extending the margin to 26-16 with 10 minutes remaining in the half following seven straight points by Scott Roehl.

The Bulldogs would then catch fire from the outside and put together a 10-0 run to erase a six-point SMSU lead and build a 41-37 lead with 1:46 remaining in the half.

Trent Carlson connected on back-to-back 3-pointers for SMSU to regain the lead, before UMD's Ryan Rasmussen ended the half with a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 44-43 halftime lead.

SMSU ended the first half shooting 15 of 26 from the field (57.7), including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, while UMD made 15 of 27 shot attempts (55.6) and drilled seven 3-pointers on 11 attempts.

The Mustangs started the second half strong and opened a 49-48 lead with 17:18 left, before putting together a 12-0 run over the next five minutes, to push the lead to 61-48, following a William Giddings layup at the 12:15 mark.

UMD answered with four straight points to cut the lead to 61-52, but SMSU answered with 10 unanswered points to put the game away and make the score 71-52 with 7:34 remaining following a five straight points by Carlson.

SMSU will close out the regular season next Saturday, Feb. 26, hosting Minnesota State, Mankato at the R/A Facility starting at 8 p.m. SMSU will honor its three seniors, Chris Aggen, Taylor Huseby and Scott Roehl prior to the game as part of “Senior Night” festivities.