Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - Mitch Weg scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and scored the game-tying shot near the end of regulation, to help lead Southwest Minnesota State to a thrilling 111-105 overtime victory over Northern State in non-conference men's basketball on Thursday at the R/A Facility.
 
Ryan Bruggeman also had a big night for SMSU (2-1), scoring a career-high 22 points on 8 of 12 shooting with four assists, three steals and three rebounds. Shaun Condon (14), Joey Bartlett (11) and Carter Kirk (10) all reached double figure scoring for the Mustangs.
 
The 111-point total ties for the second most points in school history.
 
Spencer Pankonin led the Wolves (1-2) with a career-high 26 points, connecting on 7 of 10 shots, including six 3-pointers.
 
SMSU finished the game shooting 54 percent (38 of 70) from the field with seven 3-pointers. The Mustangs were outstanding from the foul line, making 28 of 32 free throws.
 
NSU also shot well in the contest, finishing 35 of 66 (53.0) from the field, including 13 of 26 from 3-point range.
 
The Mustangs finished with a 36-33 rebound advantage.
 
SMSU trailed 98-93 with 54 seconds remaining in regulation, but a three-point play by Bruggeman with 48 second left cut the deficit to 98-96. Both teams exchanged missed field goals, before NSU's DJ Pollard was fouled with 18 seconds on the clock. Pollard missed both free throws, setting up SMSU's final possession with Weg scoring on an assist from Bruggeman with 7.8 seconds remaining.
 
NSU's Justin Decker missed a potential game-winning field goal with two seconds left in the half to send the game into overtime at 98-98.
 
In overtime, Shaun Condon hit a pair of free throws with 3:57 remaining giving SMSU a two-point lead. Following two free throws by NSU, Joey Bartlett connected on two free throws at the 3:17 mark to put the Mustangs in front 102-100. NSU missed a pair of field goals on its next possession and SMSU took advantage with Bruggeman sinking two free throws with 2:51 left to push the lead to 104-100.
 
NSU failed to score on its next possession and Bruggeman answered with a layup to give SMSU a 106-100 lead.
 
The two teams played a high-scoring opening half with SMSU shooting 67 percent from the field, while NSU shot 57 percent.
 
NSU led the entire first half, building an early 9-2 lead in the first two and a half minutes, and later used a 6-0 run to take its largest lead of the half at 38-31 at the 6:35 mark.
 
SMSU answered with six straight points, capped by two free throws by Bartlett, to cut the deficit to 38-37.
 
NSU would push the lead back to six points on two more occasions, but a pair of free throws by Weg and a 3-pointer by Taylor Schafer made the score 45-44 with 1:30 left in the half. The teams traded baskets in the final 1:10 to give NSU a 47-46 halftime lead.
 
SMSU took its first lead of the game at 50-49 with 18:10 left in the second half on a dunk by Bartlett. NSU answered back on its next possession to regain the lead and would maintain the advantage until the 12-minute mark when Bruggeman scored on a layup to give SMSU a 64-63 lead.
 
SMSU's last lead of the second half came with 5:43 remaining on a field goal by Weg to make the score 80-79. But once again, the lead was short-lived as the Wolves scored four straight points and held the lead until Bruggeman tied the score at 86-86 with 3:30 on the clock.
 
NSU would go back in front with 3:15 left in the second half and eventually would build a 93-87 lead with 1:48 left, before SMSU mounted its comeback.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues non-conference on Nov. 27-28 with road games versus Metro State (Colo.) and Regis (Colo.).