Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – Carter Kirk scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season to help Southwest Minnesota State secure a 78-72 victory over Bemidji State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball on Saturday night.
 
KJ Davis added 17 points for the Mustangs, which held off a furious second half charge by the Beavers, who shot 63 percent from the field in the second half.
 
SMSU improves to 13-5 overall, 9-3 NSIC, in earning its third straight victory. BSU, which defeated Sioux Falls on Friday night, drops to 7-10 overall, 4-8 NSIC.
 
SMSU finished the game shooting 46 percent (30 of 65) from the field, but made just 8 of 29 from 3-point range, including 3 of 15 in the second half.
 
BSU closed the night shooting 49 percent (28 of 57) from the field, including 17 of 27 in the final 20 minutes.
 
The Mustangs held a 37-32 rebound advantage with Turner Moen adding a career-high 10 rebounds to help the SMSU effort.
 
SMSU jumped out to an early advantage building a 14-6 lead at the 15:27 mark following a dunk by Kirk.
 
BSU rallied with eight straight points to tie the game at 14 with 12:47 remaining. SMSU quickly regained the lead with a Kenny Byers layup and a Taylor Schafer 3-pointer to make the score 19-14.
 
BSU would take its first lead of the game at 22-21 with 9:16 left, but SMSU answered back with three straight points by Kirk and a 3-pointer from Schafer to build a 27-22 lead.
 
The Beavers would later cut the deficit to 30-28 after a 3-pointer by Logan Bader, but the Mustang defense held BSU scoreless the remainder of the half, and took a 38-28 lead into the break.
 
Both teams connected on five 3-pointers in the opening half, but SMSU shot 48 percent overall, while BSU shot just 37 percent.
 
Kirk paced the Mustangs in the first half with 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting.
 
SMSU would extend the lead to 49-37 following a three-point play by Kirk with 15:51 left in the game, but BSU wouldn't go away and eventually would tie the game at 68 following a 3-pointer by Christian Pekarek at the 3:26 mark.
 
SMSU would turn over the ball on its next possession, but Davis came through moments later with a steal and layup to regain the lead at 70-68.
 
Bader would hit a jumper with 2:20 left to tie the game, but the game didn't remain tied for long. After a Turner Moen missed 3-pointer, Michael Lee grabbed a huge offensive rebound to keep the possession alive. Kirk then put SMSU back in front with a three-point play off an assist from Ryan Bruggeman to make the score 73-70 with 1:37 left in the game.
 
BSU would then miss a field goal and a free throw on its next two possessions, before Kirk pushed the lead to 75-70 with a layup with 39 seconds remaining. SMSU would make three of four free throws in the final 26 seconds to seal the win.
 
Bruggeman, who entered the game leading SMSU in scoring, scored just six points on 1 of 8 shooting, but dished out a team-high seven assists.
 
Jai'Vionne Green paced the Beavers with 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting, while Sharif Black added 15 points and five assists.
 
Southwest Minnesota State begins a four-game road trip next Friday, Jan. 19, taking on Concordia-St. Paul starting at 8 p.m.