Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball team gave up a 27-5 run to start the second half as it suffered a 103-88 loss to Minnesota Duluth in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday night.

This is the first time SMSU has given up 100-plus points in back-to-back games since the 1989-90 season. Wisconsin-Stout (118-81) and St. Scholastica (103-93).

SMSU (10-11, 6-10 NSIC) shot 46.3 percent (31 of 67) from the field and 44 percent (11 of 25) from 3-point range. UMD (15-7, 11-5 NSIC) shot 57.8 percent (37 of 64) from the floor and 54.5 percent (12 of 22) from downtown.
UMD dominated the paint, holding a 50-32 points in the paint advantage. UMD forced SMSU into 18 turnovers, that they turned into 28 points. SMSU held a 40-30 rebound advantage, including 15 offensive boards that they turned into 20 second-chance points.

Taylor Schafer led the Mustangs, scoring a career-high 23 points on 8 of 15 shooting, including 6 of 13 from downtown. Ryan Bruggeman added 15 points, while Joey Bartlett scored 12. Carter Kirk controlled the boards pulling down nine and Bartlett tallied seven rebounds.

UMD took the early lead to start the game, but SMSU took over and built a six-point lead with 14:45 left in the first half following a 3-pointer by Schafer. UMD would go on to tied it 21-all with 11:07 left in the half before the two teams traded baskets down the stretch. SMSU held a 47-45 advantage at the break.

SMSU scored the first basket of the second half but that would be in for a while, as UMD put together a 24-0 run to lead 72-52 with 13:45 left to play. The Bulldogs would hold on to the lead despite SMSU cutting the deficit down to seven at 81-74 with 6:31 left. That is all the closer the Mustangs would get as UMD went on to win 103-88.

Southwest Minnesota State will play host to Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston next weekend.