Box Score

MINOT, N.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball team held a one-point lead with less than a minute left in the game, but Minot State rallied to score the final six points to earn a 66-61 non-conference victory inside the MSU Dome on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
 
Nick Dufault paced SMSU with 13 points with three 3-pointers, while teammate Brian Dayman scored a career-high 11 points with eight rebounds.
 
The Mustangs finished the game shooting 49 percent (24 of 49) from the field, including 7 of 12 from 3-point range.
 
Minot State shot 44 percent (24 of 54) from the field and made 3 of 11 3-pointers. The Beavers held a 35-29 rebound advantage and posted a 16-9 scoring advantage in second chance points.
 
MISU shot a blistering 54 percent in the first half and limited SMSU to 39 percent shooting in building a 35-23 halftime advantage.
 
Kaden Evans finished with 12 points and five rebounds, while Cliff McCray chipped in with nine points for the Mustangs. Sam Schwartz added eight points, three steals and four assists for SMSU.
 
SMSU closed the night making 6 of 13 from the free throw line, while MISU was 15 of 21.
 
The Beavers would push the lead to 41-29 early in the second half, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Evans and Dayman and another field goal by Evans, pulled SMSU to within 43-41.
 
MISU would continue to hold the lead and maintained a 60-54 advantage with 4:30 remaining, but SMSU rallied with seven straight points to pull in front. Weston Baker Magrath started the scoring run with a pair of field goals and was followed by a Dayman field goal, before Dufault connected on a 3-pointer to put SMSU in front at 61-60 with 2:37 remaining.
 
SMSU would hold have two chances over the next 90 seconds to expand the lead, but failed to do so, and MISU took advantage as Melvin Newbern scored with 52 seconds to put the Beavers back in front at 62-61. SMSU would commit turnovers on its next two possessions and MISU would make four of six free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.
 
The two teams conclude the weekend on Sunday with tip-off slated for 1 p.m.