Box Score

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Kenny Byers scored a team-high, tying a career-high with 20 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, while Nick Dufault connected on four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points to pace Southwest Minnesota State to a 62-58 road victory over Central Missouri at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
 
It was the season-opener for both teams and was part of the Central Region Tip-Off Classic. SMSU continues play on Sunday facing Arkansas-Monticello starting at 4 p.m.
 
SMSU earned the victory solid defense and outstanding rebounding. The Mustangs held the Mules to 37 percent (20 of 54) shooting and held a 44-27 rebound advantage.
 
SMSU finished the game shooting 39 percent (20 of 52) from the field, including 5 of 13 from 3-point range, but did shoot 50 percent from the field in the second half. SMSU won despite making just 17 of 33 free throws. SMSU's rebound advantage led to an 18-4 scoring edge in second-chance points.
 
Jake Phipps had a solid first collegiate game for the Mustangs scoring eight points on 4 of 4 shooting with six rebounds. Cliff McCray, also playing in his first collegiate game, scored seven points and grabbed seven rebound. Grant Kramer and Brian Dayman each collected six rebounds, while Weston Baker Magrath added five rebounds, five points and two blocked shots.
 
SMSU struggled to open the game as UCM scored the game's first 10 points in the opening four minutes.
 
Phipps stopped the Mules run with a layup and SMSU slowly chipped into the lead and eventually cut the deficit to 16-14 with eight minutes remaining following a field goal by Baker Magrath. Phipps would later score a layup to pull SMSU to within 19-18 with just under five minutes left in the half, but the Mules answered with a short run to build a 24-18 advantage before taking a 24-20 halftime lead.
 
UCM would connect on a pair of 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the second half to maintain a 33-25 lead, but SMSU fought back and took its first lead of the game with 13:20 remaining on a 3-pointer by Dufault.
 
SMSU would hold a pair of five-points over the next six minutes, including 49-44 with 7:21 remaining a jumper by Byers. UCM would answer back and eventually tie the game at 55 with just under three minutes left in the game following two free throws by Kendale Hampton.
 
On the ensuing SMSU possession, the Mustangs would grab a pair of offense rebounds before Brian Dayman would draw a foul with 2:30 left. Dayman would make one of two free throws to put SMSU back in front at 56-55.
 
The SMSU defense then came through forcing a pair of UCM turnovers to keep the Mustangs in front with one minute remaining. Dufault, who finished third on the squad in 3-pointers last season, came through big time with a clutch 3-pointer with just under a minute left to push the lead to 59-55.
 
Following another UCM turnover, Byers would make one free throw and after a defensive rebound by Dayman on the next UCM possession, Dufault would add two more free throws to extend the margin to 62-55 with 17 seconds remaining and seal the victory.
 
Hampton led the Mules with 23 points on 8 of 15 shooting with three 3-pointers.
 
Arkansas-Monticello opened its season earlier on Saturday losing to Augustana, 90-73.