Box Score
DULUTH, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State's Ryan Bruggeman led the Mustangs to a 75-63 victory over Minnesota Duluth while becoming SMSU's all-time leading scorer pouring in a game-high 30 points on Saturday night at the Romano Gymnasium.
Bruggeman entered the game 18 points shy of the record which he earned at the 7:40 mark in the second half. Bruggeman passed Jacob Fahl (1999-03) as the program's all-time leading scorer who recorded 1,638 in his career. Bruggeman now has 1,650 career points after his 30-point night.
SMSU (7-4, 2-3 NSIC) shot 42 percent from the field, 30 percent from the three-point line, and 88 percent from the free-throw line while UMD (5-4, 2-3 NSIC) shot 38 percent, 14 percent from beyond the arc, and 82 from the free-throw line.
Bruggeman led the team in scoring with 30 points, four assists and seven rebounds. Taylor Schafer and Michael Lee each pitched in double-figures with 11 and 13 respectively. Lee also grabbed 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.
SMSU started the game strong building a 13-4 lead before UMD went for a 9-0 run to close in at 13-12 at the 12:57 mark. Bruggeman gave the Mustangs space with a three-pointer to follow and spark an 11-0 run to give a 24-14 led with 8:05 left in the first half. The Mustangs held unto the lead to head into the second half 40-29.
UMD opened the second half with an 8-0 run to come within three points. UMD tied the game at 42-42 with 14:55 left in the second half. UMD gained a four point lead before Nick Dufault went to the free-throw line to spark a Mustang run. Michael Lee connected on a 3-pointer and a field goal to score five unanswered points. SMSU continued on for a 17-0 run as Bruggeman earned the record and the Mustangs advanced their lead to never look back.
UMD was led by Brandon Myer with 29 points (10 of 18) and went 8 of 8 at the free-throw line.
Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on Dec. 29 with an exhibition game at Division I University of Nebraska for a 1 p.m. tip-off. The game will be a regular season contest for Nebraska. SMSU returns to regular season and NSIC play on Dec. 30 at the University of Sioux Falls.
