MARSHALL, Minn. – The University of Sioux Falls' Jack Thompson hit a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds left in overtime to help the Cougars earn a 72-71 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday afternoon inside the R/A Facility.
 
Thompson finished the game scoring a career-high 34 points on 8 of 21 from the field and 16 of 19 from the foul line. USF, which lost to SMSU in November, improves to 8-6 overall, 4-4 NSIC.
 
SMSU (8-5, 4-4 NSIC) was led by Kenny Byers, who scored a team-high 23 points, while Cliff McCray added 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Dunwa Omot also reached doubles figures in scoring with 13 points.
 
The Mustangs had three players foul out, including McCray and Jake Phipps. Phipps, SMSU's leading scorer entering the game, played just 17 minutes and was limited to 2 of 6 shooting and four points.
 
Byers hit a pair of free throws to give the Mustangs a 71-70 advantage with nine seconds remaining in overtime, but with Thompson quickly brought the ball up the court and attempted a fade-away jumper that missed, but Sam Schwartz was called for the foul.
 
SMSU finished the night shooting 39 percent (22 of 56), including 2 of 8 from 3-point range. The Mustangs held a 48-37 rebound advantage, but committed 18 turnovers.
 
USF closed the game shooting 33 percent (21 of 64) from the field, including 7 of 23 from 3-point range.
 
Both teams struggled shooting in the opening 10 minutes of the game with USF holding a 15-12 advantage with nine minutes left in the half. SMSU answered with a 12-0 run to build a 24-15 lead with 5:25 left following an Anthony Costello 3-pointer.
 
USF would fight back and trim the deficit to 30-27 at halftime.
 
SMSU would maintain the lead for the first nine minutes of the second half before USF tied the game at 40 midway through the half. SMSU had an answer and scored six straight points, including four straight by McCray, to take a 46-40 lead at the 8:45 mark.
 
Grant Kramer scored on a field goal to give SMSU a 48-43 lead with seven minutes left in the game, but USF countered with an 11-2 run to regain the lead and take a 54-50 lead at the 3:46 mark.
 
Byers would later hit a jumper to tie the game at 54 with 2:15 left in the half, but once again USF answered with Thompson hitting a field goal to go back in the lead at 56-54 with 48 seconds left in regulation.
 
Byers would keep the Mustangs in the game making a field goal and four free throws in the final 35 seconds, while USF would miss a pair of free throws, to send the game into overtime. Byers' final two free throws with two seconds remaining tied the game at 60.
 
SMSU would use a 7-0 run in overtime, capped by a Dunwa Omot 3-pointer, to build a 67-62 lead with just over three minutes left, but USF made enough plays to stay in the game and eventually earn the victory.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues home action next Friday and Saturday facing Minot State and UMary. Friday's game versus MSU begins at 5:30 p.m.