> Box Score

CROOKSTON, Minn. -Southwest Minnesota State extended its winning streak to three in a row with a come-from-behind 73-64 victory over Minnesota Crookston in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball on Saturday night.

SMSU (12-12, 8-10 NSIC) trailed 59-55 with four minutes remaining in the game, but the Mustangs countered with 15-0 run over the next three and a half minutes to earn their 18th straight victory over the Golden Eagles.

It's the second straight comeback victory for SMSU in the game's final four minutes. On Friday night, SMSU closed the game on a 13-0 run to earn a 75-71 win at Bemidji State.

SMSU had four players score 14 points in the victory with Joey Bartlett, Cole Martin, Carter Kirk and Travis Meinders all reaching double figures in scoring. Martin also added a team-high six rebounds and dished out three assists.

The Mustangs finished the night shooting 50 percent (25 of 50) from the field and made 18 of 21 free throws, including making 12 of 13 in the game's final four minutes.

UMC (7-14, 5-12 NSIC) was led by Kevin Larson's 20 points, including connecting on four 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles closed the night shooting 46 percent (25 of 55) with 10 3-pointers.

UMC led for more than 29 minutes of the game, including building its largest lead of the night at 19-8 with 11:53 remaining in the opening half.

SMSU answered back with a 16-6 run, with Kirk scoring nine straight points during the spurt, to cut the deficit to 25-24 at the 7:42 mark.

Turner Moen drilled his only 3-pointer of the night to give SMSU a brief 29-28 advantage with four minutes left, before UMC came back to take a 32-31 halftime lead.

UMC maintained the lead for a majority of the second half's first 10 minutes, before Bartlett connected on a 3-pointer to give SMSU a brief 49-48 lead with 8:57 remaining in the game.

The Golden Eagles had its own answer and built a pair of four-point leads over the next five minutes, including a 59-55 lead with 4:03 remaining, before the Mustangs stormed back with the key run to close the game.

A pair of free throws and a layup by Meinders tied the game with 3:23 remaining. Following a turnover by UMC on its next possession, Martin gave SMSU the lead with a field goal at the 2:23 mark to make the score 61-59. After a missed shot by UMC, Mitch Weg gave SMSU a five-point lead with a three-point play to stake the Mustangs to a 64-59 lead with 1:28 left in the game.

SMSU finished the game outscoring UMC 16-6 in points off of turnovers and held a 40-18 advantage in points in the paint.

Southwest Minnesota State continues its road trip next Friday, Feb. 13, taking on No. 4 and conference-leading Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Arena.