MANKATO, Minn. – A Jake Phipps double-double and Kenny Byers game winner lifted the Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball team to a 71-69 overtime victory over the Minnesota State Mavericks on Saturday afternoon inside the Taylor Center.
 
Phipps collected his third double-double of the season, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Byers banked a shot from the elbow with 5.6 seconds to go in the game to finish with 10 points and six rebounds. It is SMSU's first win against MSU since Feb. 16, 2018.
 
Despite an 8:40 scoreless stretch in the second half, SMSU (8-4, 4-3 NSIC) outscored MSU (8-4, 3-4) 9-3 in the final 4:09 to send the game into overtime. The strength of the Mustangs would be behind the arc, as SMSU would connect on 45.5 percent (10 of 22) from range, while limiting MSU to 26.9 percent (7 of 26) from deep.
 
The Mustangs finished with a 42.4 percent (28 of 66) shooting clip from the field, while the Mavericks would shoot 37.5 percent (27 of 72) from the field. MSU would see a 46-38 advantage on the glass, but SMSU would force them to commit nine turnovers compared to the seven committed by SMSU.
 
SMSU had four players score double-figures, with Phipps and Byers joined by Cliff McCray (15) and Grant Kramer (12). McCray would lead the team with five assists and four steals, while Kramer would connect on 4 of 7 from downtown.
 
After MSU took an early 9-4 lead, SMSU would battle, scoring four straight points to cut the deficit to 9-8. The teams would trade buckets the next 12 points before a long rebound by McCray would lead to a coast to coast finish giving SMSU their first lead of the game at 17-16.
 
MSU would respond, going on a 9-1 run to grow a 25-18 lead on SMSU. To continue the theme of runs, the Mustangs would come right back with an 11-2 run behind 4 of 4 shooting and 3 of 3 shooting behind the arc to race to a 29-27 lead.
 
After an MSU timeout and jumper, SMSU would continue its efficiency from the field, tacking on an 8-0 run on 4 of 4 shooting, including six points inside from Phipps. The final 43 seconds would see a pair of baskets from MSU and an SMSU miss, as SMSU would head to the locker room with a 37-33 halftime lead.
 
McCray would open the second half scoring with a three-pointer, but a 9-3 MSU run would close the SMSU gap to 43-42. Kramer would end the run with a three before the teams would begin to trade baskets.
 
MSU would reclaim the lead at 54-53 with 11:56 to go in the game as part of a 10-0 run to eventually take a 59-53 lead with 4:27 to go. Byers would end the scoring drought of over eight and a half minutes after making a pair of free throws, and Dunwa Omot would make his first three of the night to cut MSU's lead to 59-58 with 3:19 left.
 
After an MSU free throw to push their lead to two, Phipps would drive downhill on a pick n roll and make a layup to tie the score at 60-60. Each team would trade a basket in the final 43 seconds of the game, bringing the score to 62-62 into the overtime period.
 
The Mavericks would knock down a pair of free throws to open the overtime period, but McCray would drive right to the hoop at the other end and make a layup to knot things back up at 64-64. With 2:43 to go, Byers would convert on an acrobatic layup to give SMSU a 66-64 lead, but MSU would go down and knock down a three-pointer to take it from them at 67-66.
 
Phipps wouldn't spend any time messing around, hitting a three on the ensuing possession to take the lead right back at 69-67 with 1:52 to go.
 
The Mavericks would tie the game with 26 seconds to go, but Byers would find the backboard from the elbow with six seconds left to give the Mustangs the lead and the win.
 
MSU would be led by Malik Willingham, whose 15 points and four assists would lead the team.
 
SMSU will be back in action Jan. 2, 2022, hosting Sioux Falls at 2 p.m. inside the R/A Facility.