Box Score
 
MARSHALL, Minn. –  After trailing heading into the second half, the Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball team used an early push to open the second half to make a comeback to defeat the University of Minnesota Morris, 82-59, in a non-conference victory on Saturday night at the R/A Facility. 
 
SMSU, which opened the home season with a non-conference victory over Mayville State just the night prior, improves to 3-3 overall. Tonight's game was an exhibition game for University of Minnesota Morris, who holds a 2-3 overall record. 
 
The Mustangs balanced the floor in scoring as four Mustangs delivered double figures. SMSU's Weston Baker Magrath led the team in scoring with a season-high 18 points going 8-of-10 from the field. Kenny Byers added 15, Cliff McCray added 12, and Braedan Hanson added a season-high 10 with a team-high nine rebounds. 
 
The Mustangs shot 40 percent in the first half, but were hot-start to open the second half to erase a three-point halftime deficit. SMSU shot 73 percent in the second half to outscore UMM, 54-28. SMSU finished the game shooting 56 percent from the field (33-of-59) and 25 percent from the 3-point line (4-of-16), while UMM shot 44 percent from the field (23-of-52) and 36 percent from beyond the arc (9-of-26). 
 
A dunk in the opening possession of the game from Magrath would jump-start the scoring for the Mustangs in the first. UMM's Jaret Johnson, who led the Cougars with 17 points, would drain a 3-pointer after four minutes of play to take the Cougars first lead. Although the Mustangs tied the game up, they were unable to regain the lead to head into the half with a 31-28 deficit. 
 
An eight-point SMSU run to open the second half would put the Mustangs in front at 36-31. The Cougars attempted to keep the lead insight as they tied the game up at 38-all with 17 minutes remaining in the game. Hanson then sparked a 7-0 run with jumper and a 3-pointer, followed by a Baker Magrath field goal to give the Mustangs a 45-38 advantage. Brian Dayman would hit two free throws at the 13:52 mark to give the Mustangs a double-digit lead and SMSU would pull away for its 19th straight victory over its former conference rival since 1997.
 
Southwest Minnesota State opens Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday, Nov. 30, facing Sioux Falls with tip-off slated for 7 p.m. in the Stewart Center.