Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Southwest Minnesota State wheelchair basketball team finished off an impressive appearance at the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament on Friday night securing a 66-53 victory over the University of Illinois to capture fifth place out of nine teams.

SMSU, which came into the tournament as the No. 7 seed, nearly knocked off defending national champion University of Alabama in the quarterfinals on Thursday, but rebounded with a pair of victories on Friday. Alabama, which SMSU led with les than five minutes remaining on Thursday night, will play for the championship on Saturday versus Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The Mustangs, which close the season with a 12-11 overall record, were led on Friday night by Jesus Villa, who connected on 8 of 15 shots with three 3-pointers to pour in a game-high 28 points. Teammate Walter Johnson added 22 points on 8 of 16 shooting, while Ezekiel Ramudzi also reached double figures with 10 points. 

SMSU shot 56 percent from the field and made 16 of 25 free throws in the victory.