Box Score

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to earn 78-72 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball at the Stewart Center.
 
USF (6-2, 2-1 NSIC) shot just 41 percent in the first half and was 0 for 11 from 3-point range. In the second half, USF shot 65 percent and connected on 5 of 8 3-point field goals.
 
SMSU (5-3, 1-2 NSIC) was paced by Mitch Weg, who scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Carter Kirk also had a strong game, scoring a season-high 15 points on 5 of 5 shooting. Joey Bartlett added 11 points, while Turner Moen chipped in 10 points.
 
SMSU committed a season-high 19 turnovers, including 11 in the second half. USF scored 25 points off of SMSU turnovers, and outscored SMSU 51-32 in the final 20 minutes.
 
The Mustangs closed the game shooting 49 percent (25 of 51), but were just 4 of 18 from 3-point range, including 0 for 9 in the second half. SMSU held a 28-25 rebound advantage and have held a rebound advantage in seven of eight games this season. USF entered the game ranked sixth in Division II in rebound margin (+10).
 
USF was led by Jared Mayes, who scored a career-high 23 points on 9 of 11 shooting, with 18 points coming in the second half.
 
SMSU struggled to begin the game as USF built a 13-6 lead in the opening five and a half minutes. The Mustangs slowly cut into the Cougars lead, before Bartlett connected on a 3-pointer with 9:25 remaining to give SMSU an 18-17 lead.
 
SMSU would not trail the remainder of the half and used a key run in the final five minutes of the half to build a double-digit halftime lead. Holding a 28-25 lead, Taylor Schafer drilled back-to-back 3-pointers, before Weg scored on a layup to push the lead to 36-25. Weg would later hit two free throws to make the score 38-25, before USF's Cutler Finneman stopped the 10-0 run with a field goal with 1:15 remaining. Ryan Bruggeman closed the half with a long jumper to give SMSU a 40-27 halftime lead.
 
SMSU shot 52 percent in the opening half and limited USF to 41 percent, including 0 for 11 from 3-point range.
 
The Mustangs maintained a 48-39 lead with 14:30 left in the game, but the Cougars countered with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 48 with 12:35 on the clock.
 
Following a Bartlett field goal to give SMSU a 50-48 advantage, USF scored six straight points to take a 54-50 lead midway through the second half. USF would later push the lead to 60-54 at the 7:00 mark, before SMSU rallied with a 7-1 run, capped by a layup by Bruggeman to tie the score at 61-61 with 3:33 left in the game.
 
Mayes then answered with a 3-pointer to give USF the lead and would never trail again, in earning its fourth straight win over SMSU at the Stewart Center.
 
SMSU had a chance to regain the lead with just over a minute remaining, trailing 68-66, but Michael Lee missed a 3-pointer and USF was able to secure the rebound. Following a foul by Lee, Mayes missed the front end of a one-and-one, but USF's Tom Aase was able to grab the offensive rebound. Mayes then hit a clutch jumper to make the score 70-66 with 43 seconds on the clock.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns home this weekend for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday. SMSU will face U-Mary on Friday night at 8 p.m. and then battle Minot State on Saturday starting at 7 p.m.