Box Score

HAYS, Kan. – Mitch Weg led four Southwest Minnesota State players in double figures, scoring 19 points, while also grabbing a game-high nine rebounds, to lead SMSU to an 80-75 victory over Emporia State (Kan.) on Sunday afternoon.
 
The victory gives SMSU (1-1) a split in its opening weekend of play after suffering a one-point loss on Saturday night to Fort Hays State.
 
SMSU freshman Taylor Schafer had a big game in his second collegiate contest, connecting on four 3-pointers and finishing with 14 points. Shaun Condon and Joey Bartlett also reached double figures with 10 points each.
 
The Mustangs finished the game shooting 57 percent (27 of 50) from the field and closed 8 of 20 from 3-point range. SMSU picked up the win despite committing 14 turnovers, compared to just five for ESU. The Hornets held a 22-4 advantage on points off of turnovers in the game.
 
Brandon Hall scored 23 points to pace ESU, while teammate Terrence Moore added 22 points. ESU shot 47 percent and was 9 of 20 on 3-pointers.
 
SMSU finished with a 36-24 rebound advantage and outscored ESU 14-4 on second chance points.
 
ESU started the game building a 7-2 lead in the game's first four minutes, but SMSU slowly cut into the deficit before taking its first lead at 11-9 with 11 minutes remaining on a Condon field goal.
 
SMSU would not trail again in the game and later built a 25-15 advantage at the 6:34 mark on a 3-pointer by Bartlett. The lead would expand to 13 points—the largest of the game—at 35-22 with three minutes remaining following a Schafer 3-pointer, before SMSU settled for a 39-31 halftime lead.
 
ESU would cut the SMSU lead to 55-50 midway through the second half, but a three-point play by Condon and two free throws by Ryan Bruggeman pushed the margin to 60-50 at the 8:44 mark of the second half. The Hornets would answer with five straight points, but Schafer drilled a 3-pointer to end the run and give SMSU a 63-55 lead.
 
SMSU would hold a 10-point advantage with five minutes remaining, but ESU made another run with seven straight points to cut the lead to 69-66 with 3:30 on the clock. Weg came through with a field goal to stop the run and after a missed ESU field goal, Condon drilled a big 3-pointer to make the score 74-66 with 2:17 remaining.
 
The Hornets made the score 78-75 with three second left, but Weg was fouled and made both free throws to seal the win.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to the court on Thursday, Nov. 19, for its home opener versus Northern State (1-1) in a non-conference game starting at 8 p.m. It will be the second straight season the teams have played a non-conference game.