BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls made nine of 10 free throws in overtime and went on to earn an 87-83 home victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday night in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for both teams.

Sioux Falls (4-1, 1-0 NSIC) was led by Jordan Stotts with 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting with six rebounds.

SMSU (2-4, 0-1 NSIC) had five players score in double figures with Shaun Condon leading the way with a career-high 19 points. Matt Zager had 14 points and seven rebounds, while Nick Smith added 10 points and seven rebounds. Mitch Weg (12) and William Giddings (13) also reached double digits in scoring.

USF finished the night shooting 50.8 percent (30 of 59) from the field, making 10 of 22 3-point attempts. SMSU shot 51.7 percent (30 of 58), including 8 of 21 from 3-point range. SMSU held a 36-29 rebound advantage, but committed 18 turnovers.

SMSU held a 33-31 halftime advantage, but a key 24-9 USF run in the first eight minutes of the second half pushed the Cougars into a 55-42 lead. The Mustangs countered with a 10-0 run over the next two minutes capped by a Zager field goal to make the score 55-52 with nine minutes and 53 seconds left in the game.

USF twice pushed the lead to nine points in the next few minutes, before SMSU answered again and tied the game at 68 with four minutes left in regulation.

USF held a 74-72 lead with less than two minutes left in the game before Zager tied the game with a lay-up at the 1:28 mark. Both teams had chances to take the lead in the final minute, but Vinard Birch turned the ball over for SMSU with less than 30 seconds remaining, while USF's Charles Ward had his shot blocked in the final seconds by Smith to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, USF took a pair of two-point leads, before SMSU answered with back-to-back field goals by Smith to take an 80-78 lead with just over two minutes remaining. USF then made the key run, hitting six straight free throws, while SMSU missed a pair of field goal attempts, to build an 84-80 lead with 33 seconds left.

Condon then answered for SMSU with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 84-83, before Ward hit one of two free throws to give USF a two-point lead with 19 seconds remaining. On SMSU's next possession, Condon missed the potential go-ahead 3-pointer, while Zager missed a jumper and USF was able to secure the rebound and make two free throws to record the victory.

Southwest Minnesota State returns home next weekend for the first time since Nov. 9-10. SMSU will take on Augustana College on Friday, Dec. 6, with tip-off slated for 8 p.m. and then face Wayne State on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.