Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – Northern State shot 56 percent from the field in the second half and limited Southwest Minnesota State to just 28 percent shooting in the final half to rally for a 74-66 victory in NSIC men's college basketball on Saturday night inside the R/A Facility.
 
Jake Phipps led the Mustangs with 16 points on 5 of 7 shooting, while also making 6 of 8 from the free throw line. He also grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Andy Stafford added 13 points, while Kenny Byers chipped in with 12 points and a team-high four assists.
 
Gabe King led the Wolves with 15 points and six rebounds as NSU, which received votes in this week's NABC Top 25, improves to 18-6 overall, 14-4 NSIC. NSU remains atop the NSIC North Division standings.
 
SMSU (7-17, 4-14 NSIC) held a 38-33 halftime lead behind 61 percent shooting and also held a 20-6 scoring advantage in points in the paint in the opening half. NSU changed the narrative in the second half, outscoring SMSU 28-6 in points in the paint in the final 20 minutes.
 
NSU finished the game shooting 48 percent (27 of 56) from the field, including 8 of 20 from 3-point range. SMSU closed the night shooting 44 percent (21 of 48) from the field, while making 5 of 13 from 3-point land.
 
SMSU jumped to a fast start in the game's opening two and a half minutes building a 9-3 lead capped by a 3-pointer by Brian Dayman.
 
The Mustangs would later use three straight points by Phipps and a layup Stafford to extend the margin to 15-6 just over five minutes into the game.
 
Phipps would continue his strong play midway through the half hitting a layup and another free throw to give the Mustangs their largest lead of the half at 28-16 with eight minutes left.
 
NSU would later trim the deficit to three points in the final minute of the half before Stafford and Phipps combined to hit four free throws to give SMSU a 38-31 lead. NSU's King would hit a jumper at the buzzer to cut the SMSU margin to 38-33 at halftime.
 
SMSU shot 61 percent in the first half, while NSU shot 41 percent, but connected on seven 3-pointers.
 
The Mustangs would maintain a 43-37 lead early in the second half following two Byers free throws, but the Wolves slowly cut into the deficit to regain the lead.
 
NSU used an 11-0 run to rally from a 50-46 deficit to build a 57-50 lead with eight minutes remaining. NSU would later extend the lead to 63-54 at the five-minute mark, but SMSU wouldn't go away and eventually tied the game.
 
Stafford started a 9-0 run with a pair of free throws, while Nick Dufault highlighted the spark with a 3-pointer and two free throws, to help SMSU tie the game at 63 with 3:15 remaining.
 
NSU ended the run by SMSU with six straight points before Byers converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to 69-66 with 1:34 on the clock. NSU would seal the victory with a Parker Fox layup and three free throws to hold off the SMSU comeback attempt.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to NSIC South Division play next Friday at Upper Iowa starting at 7:30 p.m.