Box Score
EMPORIA, Kan. – No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State rebounded from an opening season loss on Friday night to earn a 70-66 victory over Emporia State (Kan.) on Saturday at the MIAA-NSIC Challenge at White Auditorium.
SMSU had four players score in double figures with
Carter Kirk leading the way with 20 points on 10 of 15 shooting.
KJ Davis made 7 of 11 shots to finish with 16 points, while
Michael Lee added 11 points with three 3-pointers.
Ryan Bruggeman recorded his first double-double of the season and the third of his career with 10 points and 10 assists.
SMSU finished the game shooting 54 percent (29 of 54) from the field, including 5 of 15 from 3-point range. The Mustangs held a 29-23 rebound advantage.
ESU, which suffered an overtime loss to Sioux Falls on Friday night, shot 47 percent (24 of 51) from the field, including 5 of 12 from 3-point range.
Brandon Hall led the Hornets with 30 points on 11 of 14 shooting from the field and a perfect 8 of 8 from the foul line.
SMSU built an early 12-5 lead in the game's opening four and a half minutes highlighted by a 3-pointer by Lee.
The teams exchanged the lead several times in the first half before Bruggeman closed the half with a layup to give the Mustangs a 34-33 halftime lead.
ESU rallied back and held a 48-44 lead with 13 minutes left in the game before SMSU used a short 6-0 run, capped off by a field goal from Kirk to take a 50-48 lead at the 10-minute mark.
The game would remain tight and was tied four more times including at 59-59 with 3:31 left following a Hall jumper.
Following turnover by both squads, SMSU would regain the lead at 61-59 on a Kirk layup at the 2:30 mark. Davis came through with a big steal on the ensuing ESU possession and would later convert one of two free throws making the score 62-59 with two minutes remaining.
ESU would miss a field goal on its next possession and SMSU countered with a
Turner Moen layup to push the lead to 64-59 with 1:27 remaining.
The Hornets converted a three-point play with just under a minute left in the game to cut the deficit to 64-62, but Bruggeman came through with a field goal moments later to make the score 66-62.
ESU would cut the deficit to two points on two more occasions, but Bruggeman made all four free throws in the final 24 seconds to seal the win.
Southwest Minnesota State continues non-conference play on Wednesday night hosting NSIC rival Northern State with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. at the R/A Facility.
