Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State closed out non-conference play with a 116-80 victory over Division III Crown College on Tuesday night at the R/A Facility in men's college basketball.
 
SMSU, which has won three straight games to improve to 4-2 overall, begins Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday at the University of Sioux Falls.
 
SMSU scored the game's first 19 points in the first five and a half minutes and never looked back in scoring the second most points in team history. The record is 126 points versus Northland (Wis.) in 1999.
 
Nick Dufault scored a career-high 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range to pace the Mustangs offense. Michael Lee (17) also poured in a career-high points on 6 of 7 from the field, including 4 of 5 on 3-pointers.
 
SMSU held a 40-28 rebound advantage and dished out 24 assists to just nine turnovers.
 
SMSU, which shot 72 percent from the field in the opening half, including making seven of 11 3-point field goals, ended the game shooting 64 percent (46 of 72) from the field. The Mustangs made 14 of 25 from behind the 3-point arc.
 
Taylor Schafer reached double figures with 14 points, while Kolin Bartlett, Vydal Bradford and Ryan Bruggeman also hit double digits with 11 points each. Bartlett and Carter Kirk both finished with a game-high seven rebounds.
 
Timothy Wendel led the Storm (1-3) with 32 points, connecting on 11 of 17 field goals with seven 3 pointers.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will face Sioux Falls beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday.