MARSHALL, Minn. –  Dunwa Omot poured in a career-high 24 points on 9 of 17 shooting, while Kenny Byers added 22 points and nine rebounds to pace Southwest Minnesota State to a 77-73 victory over the University of Mary on Saturday afternoon inside the R/A Facility.
 
SMSU improves to 9-5 overall, 5-4 NSIC, while falls to 5-9 overall, 4-5 NSIC.
 
The Mustangs shot 63 percent in the second half with four 3-pointers and finished the game shooting 51 percent (29 of 57) with seven 3-pointers.
 
The Marauders closed the game shooting 47 percent (29 of 62) from the field and made 10 of 26 from 3-point range. UMary was led by Kai Huntsberry's 26 points on 11 of 22 shooting with six rebounds and five assists.
 
Sam Schwartz also reached double figures for the Mustangs with 11 points on four field goals, including three 3-pointers.
 
UMary used a 15-0 run early in the game to build a 17-6 lead just five minutes into the contest.
 
SMSU would slowly cut into the deficit and eventually regained the lead with just under two minutes remaining in the half on a steal and fast-break dunk by Cliff McCray to put SMSU in the lead at 35-34. UMary closed the half with a pair of free throws to regain the lead at 36-35 at halftime.
 
UMary shot 50 percent in the first half with four 3-pointers, while SMSU closed the half shooting 42 percent with three 3-pointers. Omot led the Mustangs in the first 20 minutes with 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting.
 
UMary would build on its halftime lead and take a 44-38 advantage with 17:27 left in the game, but a 3-pointer by Schwartz, followed by an Anthony Costello field goal cut the deficit to 44-43.
 
Schwartz would later connect on another 3-pointer by put SMSU in front at 50-49 with 13:15 left in the game.
 
UMary would regain the lead at 59-57 at the 8:54 mark before Byers tied the game with a jumper and later used a three-point play to put the Mustangs up 62-59 with seven minutes remaining.
 
SMSU would never trail again and pushed the lead to 67-61 following a jumper from Jake Phipps at the 4:50 mark.
 
The Marauders wouldn't go away and cut the Mustang lead to 71-69 with two minutes left but four straight free throws by Phipps and Logan Benson extended the margin to 75-69. UMary answered with a field goal to trail by four, but a layup by Omot with 25 seconds remaining sealed the win.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues play versus the NSIC North next Friday taking on Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D., with game time at 5:30 p.m.