> Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - Mitch Weg recorded his first double-double of the season, scoring a team-high 15 points and grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 72-68 victory over the University of Sioux Falls in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for both teams.
 
SMSU (5-2, 1-0 NSIC) led 40-24 at halftime and held a 19-point lead with less than nine minutes left in the game, only to see USF (2-4, 0-1 NSIC) rally in the final minute to pull with three points in the final seconds.
 
Both teams shot poorly during the game with SMSU shooting 39 percent (22 of 57) from the field, including 6 of 20 from 3-point range. USF shot 39 percent from the field and made 5 of 16 3-pointers.
 
Charles Ward led the Cougars with a game-high 21 points, including 19 in the second half. USF finished with a 44-38 rebound advantage and held a 19-6 advantage on second chance points.
 
Drew Osmundson scored a career-high 13 points for SMSU, while Carter Kirk and Joey Bartlett each finished with 10 points. Cole Martin added nine points and a career-high nine rebounds.
 
SMSU build an early 14-5 lead six and a half minutes into the game before USF slowly cut into the deficit and made the score 16-15 with 10 minutes left in the half.
 
SMSU maintained a one-point lead before Osmundson connected on a pair of 3-pointers to give the Mustangs a 24-17 lead with 7:45 remaining.
 
A USF field goal trimmed the lead to 24-19, before SMSU answered with a 9-1 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Nate Huot, a layup by Kirk and finished off by a 3-pointer by Martin to push the lead to 34-20 at the 4:37 mark.
 
The Mustangs continued with the double-digit lead the remainder of the half and took a 40-24 lead into the break. 
 
SMSU limited USF to just 30 percent shooting in the first half and forced eight USF turnovers.
 
Martin scored the first field goal of the second half to give SMSU a 43-24 lead and would stay in control for much of the half, including holding a 58-39 lead with 8:21 left following an Osmundson free throw.
 
USF wouldn't go away and scored 10 straight points to pull within 58-48 with 5:24 remaining, but Kirk stepped up and hit the biggest shot of his young career as he drilled his first career 3-pointer to end the streak and give the Mustangs a 61-48 advantage with 4:50 left.
 
Bartlett would score on a layup to give SMSU a 64-53 lead with 2:44 remaining, but again USF would answer and quickly cut the lead to 64-59 with 2:04 on the clock.
 
Martin would answer with a field goal for SMSU to push the lead back to seven at 66-59 with 1:17 remaining, before USF came back and made it a 69-65 following a basket by Freddie Young. SMSU would hold of the charge, making enough free throws in the final 30 seconds to secure the victory.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues NSIC play this Friday hosting Winona State with tip-off set for 8 p.m.