BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball team suffered another heartbreaking loss in its season finale on Saturday night dropping a thrilling 61-60 contest to No. 6 Minnesota State, Mankato in Marshall.

Marcus Hill hit two free throws with 5.1 seconds left in the game to give MSU a 61-60 lead. Following a timeout, SMSU attempted to win the game, but failed to get off a shot before the final buzzer sounded.

The victory clinched the outright conference championship for MSU (23-3, 19-3 NSIC), finishing one game ahead of University of Mary. Cameron Hodges scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Mavericks, while Jefferson Mason added 15 points and eight rebounds.

The loss for SMSU ends its season at 12-14 overall, 9-13 NSIC, suffering its first losing season since 2004-05. The Mustangs tied for eighth in the conference standings, but Wayne State will advance to the eight-team NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament via tiebreaker. MSU, the No. 1 ranked team in the region, will open the conference tournament on Wednesday at home versus Wayne State.

Trent Carslon led SMSU with a season-high 15 points, connecting on three 3-pointers. Scott Roehl, playing his final collegiate game, grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to lead the Mustangs, which outrebounded the Mavericks 50-34.

SMSU suffered its fifth loss of the season by two or less points and also lost two other games in overtime.

SMSU, which rallied from an 18-point deficit, gained a one-point lead with 25 seconds left in the game on a layup by Scott Roehl. Jefferson Mason then missed a jumper on MSU's next possession and SMSU's Trent Carlson came up with the rebound and was fouled with 12 seconds remaining. Carlson though missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and the Mavericks grabbed the rebound setting up the final play. Hill then drove to the basket and was fouled by Vinard Birch to set up the game-winning free throws.

SMSU couldn't overcome a slow start, falling behind 17-2 in the first eight minutes, and shooting just 22 percent (9 of 41) in the opening half, as MSU built a 32-24 halftime lead.

MSU maintained the lead for much of the second half, including building a 51-37 lead with 7:14 left in the game. SMSU rallied to trim the lead to 54-51 with 3:29 left on a basket by Carlson, but MSU answered with four straight points to build a seven-point lead.

SMSU wouldn't go away and scored seven unanswered points to tie the game at 58 at the 1:25 mark following a Roehl basket. MSU's Cameron Hodges hit one of two free throws with 1:06 left, before Roehl's basket with 25 seconds gave SMSU's its first lead of the game.

SMSU finished the game shooting just 29 percent from the field (21 of 72), including 5 of 19 from 3-point range.

Birch and Jordan Miller rounded out SMSU's double figure scoring with 11 points apiece. Birch also tied a career-high with seven assists.

The game marked the final collegiate game for SMSU seniors Chris Aggen, Taylor Huseby and Scott Roehl.