Box Score
 
ABERDEEN, S.D. — The Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball team turned the ball over 12 times in the first half, which Northern State converted into 15 points in route to a 79-63 victory in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball Friday night.
 
SMSU (8-8, 4-7) finished shooting 46.9 percent (23 of 49) from the floor and 68.8 (11 of 16) percent from the free-throw line. NSU (10-7, 6-5) shot 50 percent (31 of 62) and 37.5 percent (9 of 24) from behind the arc.
 
NSU converted on 15 SMSU turnovers—12 in the first half—and scored 15 points, while the Wolves turned the ball over just three times—season low. SMSU held a 33-30 rebound advantage, but struggled in second chance points as the Wolves scored 11 points to the Mustangs two.
 
Mitch Weg lead SMSU with 15 points (7 of 10), while Ryan Bruggeman scored 14 points. Joey Bartlett added 11 points and pulled down six rebounds. Carter Kirk led the Mustangs with nine rebounds, Ryan Bruggeman grabbed six.
 
SMSU started the first half on a 7-4 run to grab an early five-point lead, but an NSU 3-pointer would lock the game up a 7-all. The game was tied at 9-all with 14:58 left, but another Wolves' 3-pointer would give them a 12-9 advantage that they would not lose. SMSU would trail by four with 6:57 left in the half but, NSU would go on an 8-0 run over the next four minutes and 12 second to build a 12 point lead—largest of the half—with 2:45 left to play. SMSU put together a 6-2 run to trial by eight at the half, 37-29.
 
SMSU finished the first half shooting 45.8 percent (11 of 24) from the field, while NSU shot 48.4 percent (15 of 31). The Wolves forced the Mustangs into 12 turnovers that they converted into 15 points. NSU controlled the box the first half holding a 20-12 point advantage with points in the paint despite SMSU holding a 18-15 rebound advantage.
 
SMSU started the second half on a 9-5 run to trail by four with 16:51 left to play, but an 18-9 run by NSU gave them its largest lead of the game so far leading 60-47 with 8:57 left. NSU built a double-digit lead down the stretch and led by 17 with 3:30 left. NSU kept its double-digit lead the rest of the game to secure the 79-63 win.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will play at MSU Moorhead tomorrow at 6 p.m.