Box Score
MARSHALL, Minn. – Ryan Bruggeman hit the game-winning field goal with 12.3 seconds remaining to lift Southwest Minnesota State to a thrilling, come-from-behind 58-56 victory over Minnesota State on Saturday night in NSIC men's basketball.
The victory capped a big comeback from SMSU, which trailed by 17 points in the first half.
Carter Kirk led a balanced SMSU (16-3, 11-3 NSIC) attack with 11 points and nine rebounds, while
KJ Davis added nine points, five rebounds and four steals.
SMSU finished the game shooting 41 percent (24 of 59) from the field and made just 2 of 14 from 3-point range. SMSU was also outrebounded 38-33, but forced 21 MSU turnovers, which led to 22 points.
The tight victory pushes SMSU's record to 9-2 this season in games decided by four or less points. It was also just the second victory for SMSU over MSU in the last 10 meetings dating back to Dec. 14, 2012.
MSU (13-7, 8-6 NSIC) shot 42 percent from the field, while making 7 of 22 from 3-point range. Joey Witthus paced the Mavericks with 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting with two 3-pointers.
SMSU struggled in the game's opening eight minutes as MSU scored the game's first 14 points and led 19-2 with 12 minutes left in the half.
SMSU would slowly cut into the deficit in the final 10 minutes of the half.
Joey Bartlett hit SMSU's lone 3-pointer in the half to make the score 23-15 at the 7:52 mark, before MSU scored five straight to push the margin to 28-15.
The SMSU defense then stepped up as the Mustangs closed the half on a 12-2 run in the final six minutes to cut the deficit to 30-27 at halftime.
The Mustangs shot just 39 percent, made just 1 of 7 3-point attempts and were outrebounded 19-17 in the opening 20 minutes.
SMSU kept the momentum going to start the second half, scoring the first eight points to build a 35-30 lead with 17 minutes left. MSU came right back with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to regain a 40-35 advantage.
SMSU countered with a six straight points, closed off by a Davis field goal, to put SMSU back ahead at 41-40 with just over 11 minutes remaining.
The game remained tight the rest of the way as neither team held a lead of more than four points the rest of the way.
Davis hit a pair of free throws with 2:24 remaining to give the Mustangs a 56-54 lead, but a field goal by the Mavericks' Joey Witthus tied the game at 56 with 1:15 left.
Both teams missed field goals on the next two possessions, before Bruggeman gave the Mustangs the lead with his pull-up jumper from the free throw line.
Southwest Minnesota State continues its homestand next weekend taking on NSIC-leading MSU Moorhead on Friday, Jan. 27, before facing Northern State on Saturday, Jan. 28, for the annual "Hawaiian Night" game.
