Box Score

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Kenny Byers scored a career-high 33 points to lead Southwest Minnesota State (7-14, 4-11 NSIC) to a 77-63 rally victory over Minnesota Crookston (9-12, 5-10 NSIC) on Friday night in Lysaker Gymnasium. 
 
Although the Mustangs had a slow-start and trailed heading into half-time, a 43-point second quarter would be the differentiating factor to edge out the Golden Eagles. 
 
The Mustangs shot 58 percent (29-of-50) from the field and 56 percent from the 3-point line (5-of-9), while the Golden Eagles recorded 42 percent (22-of-53) from the field and 50 percent (10-of-20) from the beyond the arc. 
 
UMC's Harrison Cleary led the Golden Eagles with 29 points and after tonight, Cleary became NSIC's all-time leading scorer. 
 
The Mustangs trailed slightly behind the Golden Eagles well into the first half until the final two minutes before Cleary had two 3-pointers in the final two minutes, to put UMC up 39-34. 
 
Byers then exploded to a 21-point second half as the Mustangs would claim the come-from-behind victory. Byers had eight points with 1:13 left in the game to help carry the team to the victory 
 
SMSU's first lead in the second half came with 16:23 left on the clock after a basket from Nick Dufault, followed by a 3-pointer from Andy Stafford would give the Mustangs a four-point lead at 46-42 lead. 
 
Southwest Minnesota State travels to Bemidji State tomorrow for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff in the BSU Gymnasium.