MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State used a key 9-0 run late in the second half to earn a 67-60 victory over Northern State on Saturday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball.

SMSU (9-6 overall, 8-3 NSIC) has now won five of its last six and is sole possession of fourth place in the NSIC standings, one game behind MSU Moorhead and St. Cloud State for second place.

NSU (10-6 overall, 6-6 NSIC) held a 52-50 lead with seven minutes left in the game, but SMSU rallied with the key run over the next four and a half minutes to build a 58-52 lead with 3:29 remaining following a pair of free throws by Casey Sussenguth.  With the score tied at 52, William Giddings gave SMSU the lead with his only 3-pointer of the game with 5:51 left and then extended the lead just over a minute later with another field goal to push the lead to 57-52.

The Wolves rallied and trimmed the deficit to 63-60 with 27 seconds left in the, but SMSU closed out the game with four straight free throws to seal the victory.

Jordan Miller led SMSU with 19 points, while Matt Zager added 15 points and a career-high seven rebounds. 

The SMSU defense was solid all game long, forcing NSU into a season-high 23 turnovers.

The lead changed eight times in the first half and was tied four other times.  NSU built its largest lead of the first half with nine minutes and 28 seconds left in the half at 19-16. 

SMSU answered with its biggest run of the half, putting together a 15-4 run in the next five minutes, capped by a field goal by Nick Smith, to take a 31-23 lead with 4:44 remaining.

The Wolves then answered with their own run, closing the half on a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to 34-33 at halftime.

SMSU finished the opening half shooting 43 percent from the field, connecting on four 3-pointers.  Matt Zager led the Mustangs with 11 points, including connecting on a pair of 3-pointers, while Jordan Miller added 10 points.

NSU shot 61 percent in the first half with Trent Zomer leading the way with seven points on 3 of 3 shooting.

The game remained close throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half, before SMSU used a short burst to take a 50-45 lead with 9:37 remaining.  NSU then answered with seven straight points to take a two-point lead, before the Mustangs came right back with the decisive 9-0 run.

Spencer Pankonin, who entered the game averaging 1.5 points per game, scored a team-high 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting, with a pair of 3-pointers to pace the Wolves.

Southwest Minnesota State will return to NSIC action next Friday, Jan. 20, at Minnesota Duluth (10-5 overall, 7-4 NSIC), beginning a four-game road trip.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.