Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State extended its winning streak to three in a row with a 101-81 non-conference victory over Division III Bethany Lutheran College on Monday night at the R/A Facility.
 
SMSU (3-1) had five players score in double figures with Taylor Schafer pouring in 19 points on 7 of 12 shooting with five 3-pointers, while Nick Dufault also scored 19 points on 7 of 8 shooting with three 3-pointers. Ryan Bruggeman (17), Braedan Hanson (15) and Kenny Byers (14) also all finished in double-figure scoring.
 
Tonight's game was the 100^th career game for both Bruggeman and Schafer.
 
The Mustangs shot 60 percent (39 of 65) from the field, including 12 of 20 from 3-point range. SMSU also held a 37-34 rebound advantage with Steven McNease leading the Mustangs with a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
BLC (2-4), which won the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament championship a season ago and won an NCAA Tournament game, shot 42 percent (30 of 72) from the field. Cire Mayfield led the Vikings with 21 points, four assists and four rebounds. The Vikings are coached by former SMSU standout Matt Fletcher (2004-08), who is the program's all-time leader with 305 3-pointers and also ranks ninth with 1,375 points.
 
SMSU used an early 7-0 run—started by a 3-pointer by Dufault and followed by a field goal by McNease and two free throws by Michael Lee--to build a 14-7 advantage with 15 minutes left in the half.
 
Bethany Lutheran would later cut the deficit to 21-19 with 11:12 remaining, but SMSU answered with an 11-0 run to push the lead to 32-19. Bruggeman scored six points during the run, while Schafer and Braedan Hanson each connected on 3-pointers.
 
SMSU would later push to lead to 21—at 50-29—after a Hanson 3-pointer, before taking a 57-33 halftime lead on a last-second layup by McNease.
 
The Mustangs shot 64 percent in the opening half, including making 7 of 10 3-pointers. Dufault scored 15 points in the first 20 minutes on 5 of 5 shooting with three 3-pointers.
 
SMSU was never threatened in the second half and eventually moved the lead to 30 points at 78-48 with 11:42 remaining following a layup Schafer.
 
Schafer's five 3-pointers now gives him 183 in his career, surpassing Joey Bartlett (182) for fourth in team history. Schafer is also closing in on 1,000 career points and he has now scored 985 in 100 games.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues its homestand tomorrow night with a 7:30 match-up versus another UMAC opponent, Northland College.