CLAREMORE, Okla. – Anthony Costello scored a career-high since coming to SMSU with 21 points on 10 of 12 shooting, while an 18-0 run early in the first half paced Southwest Minnesota State to a dominating 76-56 victory over Newman University (Kan.) on Saturday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Express Regional Challenge, hosted by Rogers State.
SMSU, which is now 2-0 on the season, saw their last deficit at the 17:54 mark of the first quarter, trailing 5-4 before an 18-0 run spanned over the next 10:24 put the Mustangs ahead 22-5. SMSU shot 53.4 percent (31-58) from the field on the day, while outscoring the Jets 46-32 in the paint. Newman, who moves to 1-1 after a victory over Concordia-St. Paul on Friday, shot just 36.2 percent (21-58) and lost the turnover battle 23-17.
Costello scored 38 points versus Mayville State during the 2019-20 season while playing for Dakota State University.
Mason Lund reached double figures off the bench for his second consecutive game, scoring 12 points and bringing down six rebounds, while
Dunwa Omot added 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Cliff McCray dished out career-high tying eight assists to power the offense, while adding six points.
Majok Majouk grabbed six rebounds and added four points in 18 minutes off the bench.
Neither team could find its rhythm from deep, with the Mustangs shooting 22.2 percent (4-18), and the Jets shooting 19 percent (4 of 21) from behind the arc. SMSU closed the game shooting 83.3 percent (10 of 12) from the free throw line, while Newman shot 66.7 percent (10-15).
Following the early run by the Mustangs, the score see-sawed the final 7:30 of the first half, as a
Sam Schwartz three-pointer with six seconds left pushed the lead to 36-15 at the break.
SMSU continued its dominance to open the second half, with a
Jake Phipps three-pointer with 8:59 left in the game pushing the lead to 66-29. Newman closed the game outscoring the Mustangs 27-10, but it would not be enough.
Stevie Strong led the Jets with 11 points.
SMSU returns home on Saturday, Nov. 19, taking on Truman State (Mo.) at noon in the R/A Facility before opening its conference season in the R/A Facility against Sioux Falls at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
