Box Score

WAYNE, Neb.- Ryan Bruggeman followed up a career night by scoring another 25 points with four assists and three rebounds while Carter Kirk grabbed his fifth career double-double as No. 19/26 Southwest Minnesota State (12-1, 7-1 NSIC) defeated Wayne State (4-10, 2-6 NSIC) 85-73 on Saturday night in the Rice Auditorium.

The Mustangs led for approximately 93 percent of the game and shot above 50 percent as a team for a third straight game going 26-of-50 (52 percent). SMSU attempted a season high 43 free throw attempts hitting 65 percent (28-of-43) of its shots from the charity stripe, well below its season average of 76 percent.
 
SMSU held Wayne State to the second lowest field goal shooting percentage (.397) by an opponent on the Mustangs' current six game winning streak. Bruggeman earned his second 20-point performance of the season and posted his second highest career point total (25) behind his 27-point outing the previous night.
 
Kirk had 13 points and 12 rebounds in his fourth double-double so far this season while KJ Davis (14) and Mitch Weg (10) also reached double digits in points scored.
 
In the first New Years Eve game for SMSU since 2006, the Mustangs never left much doubt in the outcome as they took a lead over WSC with just under 17 minutes to play in the first half and never looked back. From that point, Southwest Minnesota State went on a 16-4 run over the next four minutes and led by as many as 16 on two different occasions in the first half.
 
SMSU dominated the paint in the first half with a 24-8 advantage in points in the paint and a 23-14 advantage on the glass. KJ Davis led the Mustangs in scoring in the half with 12 points while Joey Bartlett combined with Kirk to pull in 14 boards as the Mustangs took a 42-27 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Mustangs saw their offense dip slightly in the second half going 10-of-21 shooting in the second including just 2-of-8 on three point attempts. Conversely the Wildcats shot just 46 percent on 16-of-35 from the field in the second half while SMSU pulled in 16 of 21 second half rebounds on the defensive end. SMSU got the line often in the second hitting 21-of-33 second half free throws to help put away the Mustangs' fourth consecutive road win.
 
SMSU will return home next weekend as it hosts Winona State on Friday at 8 p.m., followed by a game against Upper Iowa on Saturday at 7 p.m.