Box Score

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Carter Kirk scored a career-high 20 points and pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 73-69 non-conference victory over Michigan Tech on Friday night.
 
SMSU improves to 4-0 on the season for the first time since 2009-10 and also ties the school record for best start to a season.  It was also SMSU's first-ever victory at MTU in 13 all-time games. MTU drops to 1-2 on the season.
 
Kirk finished the night shooting 7 of 10 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free throw line and recorded his second career double-double. Ryan Bruggeman scored 12 points, while KJ Davis chipped in with 10 points for the Mustangs.
 
SMSU shot 47 percent (25 of 53) from the field, including 6 of 20 from 3-point range. SMSU was solid from the free throw making 17 of 19 shots. The Mustangs held a 41-30 rebound advantage—its first game this season outrebounding an opponent.  
 
SMSU, which held a 40-23 lead at halftime, saw MTU rallied back to trim the lead to SMSU lead to 66-65, with 2:15 remaining. Bruggeman pushed the lead to 68-65 with a layup, before the Huskies answered with another field goal and a foul on SMSU to cut the lead to 68-67 at the 1:42 mark. MTU had a chance to tie the game, but missed the free throw with Kirk grabbing the rebound. On the ensuing possession, Kirk gave the Mustangs a 70-67 lead with a field goal with 1:25 left.
 
Kirk would later add a free throw to push the lead 71-67, but MTU wouldn't go away, hitting two free throw in the final minute to cut the lead to 71-69. Taylor Schafer sealed the victory for the Mustangs hitting a pair of free throws with five seconds remaining.
 
Schafer closed the night with nine points, while Michael Lee also scored nine points on three 3-pointers.
 
The teams played a tight opening 10 minutes with SMSU holding a 16-12 lead. The Mustangs the reeled off a 15-2 run over the next six minutes—capped by a 3-pointer by Schafer—to build a 31-14 lead. SMSU would later push the lead to 19 points, before taking a 40-23 lead into halftime.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will look to set the program record for best start to a season tomorrow afternoon facing Northern Michigan with tip-off set for 2 p.m. CST in Marquette, Mich.