Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. -- Southwest Minnesota State senior guard Taylor Schafer became the 24th player in team history to reach 1,000 career points in SMSU's 92-61 victory over Northland College (Wis.) in non-conference men's basketball on Tuesday at the R/A Facility.

The victory, SMSU's fourth in a row, improves its record to 4-1 overall. The Mustangs close non-conference play on Saturday hosting Crown College at 1 p.m.

Schafer, who finished with 17 points, was one of five SMSU players to reach double figures in scoring. One of the double figure scorers was Steven McNease, who had a big night scoring 16 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Braedan Hanson poured in 17 points, while Kenny Byers and Ryan Bruggeman each chipped in with 15 points.

SMSU closed the game shooting 51 percent (32 of 63) from the field, including 12 of 30 from 3-point range. The Mustangs held a 48-26 rebound advantage and held a 27-4 scoring advantage in second chance points.

Northland, a Division III school from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, is 1-2 overall and played tonight's game as an exhibition. Modesta Britten scored a team-high 23 points to pace the Lumberjacks.

Schafer, who finished the night making 6of 13 shots with five 3-pointers, reached the milestone with a 3-pointer at the 6:42 mark of the first half.

SMSU used a 10-0 spurt, capped by a Hanson 3-pointer, to build a 20-7 lead with 15 minutes left in the opening half. Michael Lee scored on a close range field goal midway through the half to give SMSU its first 20-point lead of the game at 33-13 and the Mustangs never looked back in earning the victory.

SMSU shot 58 percent in the opening half, while limiting Northland to just 31 percent shooting, in building a 56-27 halftime lead.

Northland cut the deficit to 67-47 near the halfway mark of the second half, but 3-pointers by Byers and Lee highlighted a 7-0 run during a three-minutes span to seal the win.

The Mustangs have scored 90 or more points in three of their four victories.