BOX SCORE

FAYETTE, Iowa – Southwest Minnesota State extended its winning streak to a season-long three straight picking up an 83-73 road victory over Upper Iowa on Friday night in NSIC men's basketball.

SMSU (5-4, 3-1 NSIC) was led by Joey Bartlett, who poured in a career-high 17 points and was one of five Mustangs to score in double figures. William Giddings scored 15 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to help pace the Mustangs, while Nick Smith (14), Vinard Birch (13) and Matt Zager (12) all reached double figure scoring. Bartlett finished the game connecting on 6 of 10 shots, including a career-high four 3-pointers. Birch collected eight assists and three steals, while Zager dished out four assists and three steals.

SMSU opened a 38-36 halftime lead with a key 11-0 run early in the second half to build a 54-41 lead with 16 minutes and 30 seconds remaining and never looked back in earning its sixth straight win over UIU (3-7, 1-3 NSIC). The Mustangs shot 72.7 percent (16 of 22) from the field in the second half to score 45 second half points. It's the third time this season SMSU has shot 70 percent or higher from the field in the second half of a game.

SMSU ended the game shooting 54.4 percent (31 of 57) from the field, including 8 of 13 from 3-point range. SMSU also finished with a 35-32 rebound advantage.

The teams played a tight opening 10 minutes with neither team holding a lead larger than three points. UIU held a 19-16 lead with less 10 minutes left in the half before SMSU's Mitch Weg and Nick Smith connected on back-to-back jumpers to give the Mustangs their first lead since the game's opening minute at 20-19 with 8:50 remaining.

UIU countered with an 8-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 27-20, before SMSU answered with its own 9-0 run. Smith started the spurt with a jumper and was followed by a Joey Bartlett 3-pointer. Smith then hit back-to-back field goals to give SMSU a 29-27 advantage at the 4:00 mark.

Bartlett would drill another 3-pointer to snap a tie and give SMSU a 34-31 lead with 2:16 left. Following a three-point play by UIU's Joey Woods, Bartlett and Smith once again hit jumpers to push the SMSU lead to 38-34, before settling for a 38-36 halftime lead.

Smith led the Mustangs with 12 first half points, while Bartlett added nine points. SMSU shot 43 percent in the opening half.

SMSU started the second half red-hot with Bartlett drilling a pair of 3-pointers, before Williams Giddings and Shaun Condon each connected on a 3-pointers to give SMSU a 54-41 lead with 16:25 left in the game.

The Peacocks trimmed the deficit to 54-46 with 14:50 remaining, before the Mustangs answered back with six straight points capped by a dunk by Giddings to make the score 60-46 and the lead for SMSU never dipped below double digits the remainder of the game.

Joey Woods led Upper Iowa with 20 points and seven assists.

Southwest Minnesota State continues its two-game weekend road swing tomorrow night taking on Winona State (8-2, 4-0 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 6 p.m.