Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – In a battle of two of the top teams in the region, Southwest Minnesota State moved into a first place tie in the NSIC standings with a thrilling 113-105 overtime victory over No. 21 MSU Moorhead.
 
SMSU improves to 17-3 overall, 12-3 NSIC, while MSUM drops to 17-4 overall, 12-3 NSIC. SMSU, MSUM and Upper Iowa all sit atop the NSIC overall standings.
 
SMSU's 113 points is the second highest in team history, while the victory lifts SMSU's record to 5-12 in overtime games since the 2006-07 season.
 
The two teams combined to make 27 3-pointers and both committed just nine turnovers in the game.

Ryan Bruggeman led six SMSU players in double figures with 19 points with six assists and two steals. Mitch Weg scored 17 points on 6 of 6 shooting, while Taylor Schafer and KJ Davis each added 16 points. Joey Bartlett poured in 15 points and added 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Turner Moen chipped in with 13 points.
 
SMSU finished the game shooting 50 percent (42 of 84) from the field, including 14 of 24 from 3-point range. SMSU held a 45-34 rebound advantage and held a 22-10 scoring edge on second chance points.
 
MSUM was led by Aaron Lien's 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting, while Jon Doss added 20 points with six 3-pointers.
 
The Dragons shot 55 percent (41 of 75) and made 13 of 28 3-pointers.
 
The first half featured several big runs by both clubs, with MSUM putting together the first big spurt with a 9-0 run to build an 18-9 lead at the 14:11 mark.
 
SMSU countered with 16-2 run over the next five minutes capped by a layup from Bruggeman to give the Mustangs a 25-20 lead with 9:20 remaining.
 
SMSU would later maintain a 27-21 advantage, but MSUM answered with a 17-3 run to build a 38-30 led at the 4:26 mark. Following seven straight points by SMSU to cut the deficit to 38-37, MSUM closed the half on an 8-2 run to take a 46-39 lead into halftime.
 
MSUM shot 55 percent in the first half and made 7 of 14 3-point field goals. SMSU closed the first half shooting 49 percent, making 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
 
SMSU clawed back and tied the game at 57 with 14:54 remaining on a 3-pointer by Drew Osmundson.
 
Neither team had a lead of larger than four points until MSUM held a pair of five-point leads—the last at 79-74 with 6:52 remaining.
 
SMSU scored the next six points to go ahead 80-79 on a layup by Carter Kirk with 4:16, before Schafer hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 83-79 with 3:50 left.
 
MSUM rallied back and tied the game three more times, including 91-91 with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. SMSU had two chances to win the game in the closing second, but a 3-pointer by Davis missed and Moen's putback in the lane also rimmed off sending the game into overtime.
 
The teams exchanged baskets to open overtime, before Weg and Moen scored back-to-back field goals to give SMSU a 97-93 lead and SMSU never trailed again.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will conclude its four-game homestand tomorrow night facing Northern State for the annual "Hawaiian Night" game starting at 7 p.m.