MARSHALL, Minn. – Winona State rallied from a 14-point second half deficit and held a 20-6 scoring advantage in points off turnovers to earn a big 72-68 overtime victory over Southwest Minnesota State in NSIC men's college basketball on Saturday afternoon.
 
SMSU, which entered the game tied for second in the NSIC South Division standings, drops to 15-10 overall, 11-9 NSIC, while WSU improves to 14-11 overall, 9-11 NSIC.
 
SMSU, which had a chance to win the game near the end of regulation, was led by Dunwa Omot's 19 points with three 3-pointers, while Jake Phipps added 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Phipps reached the 1,000-career point scored mark midway through the first half to became the 26^th player in team history to reach the milestone. Anthony Costello also scored in double figures for the Mustangs with 13 points.
 
The Mustangs finished the night shooting 43 percent (24 of 56) from the field, including 8 of 26 from 3-point range. The Warriors, which held a 41-34 rebound advantage, including 16 offensive rebounds, closed the game shooting just 36 percent (24 of 68), while making 8 of 28 from 3-point range.
 
Connor Dillon led WSU with 18 points and seven rebounds.
 
SMSU also made just 12 of 17 from the foul line, while WSU connected 16 of 18 free throws.
 
The Mustangs dominated most of the opening half and held a 22-14 advantage following Phipp's 3-pointer at the 9:31 mark.
 
WSU cut the SMSU lead to 22-19, but SMSU scored seven straight points, including back-to-back field goals by Phipps to extend the margin to 29-19.
 
Omot would later record a dunk, while Phipps connected on another 3-pointer late in the half to push the SMSU lead to 36-23 at halftime.
 
Omot would make another 3-pointer early in the second half to give SMSU its largest lead of the night at 41-27. Phipps would make a field goal to make the score 43-30 at the 17:16 mark, but WSU would rally with a game-changing 15-2 run to tie the game at 45 with just under 12 minutes left in regulation.
 
James Kelley scored on a layup at the 8:24 mark to give WSU its first lead since early in the first half at 50-48. The Warriors would maintain the advantage for much of the remainder of the second half, including building a 59-52 lead with 4:36 remaining.
 
SMSU would rally back as Costello scored on a layup and was followed by two free throws by teammate Cliff McCray. Following a field goal by WSU, the Mustangs answered back behind a layup from McCray and a game-tying 3-pointer by Costello with 56 seconds remaining.
 
McCray had a chance to put SMSU in the lead with five seconds left in regulation, but his jumper was missed, while Connor Dillon would miss a 3-pointer as time expired and send the game into overtime.
 
Omot put SMSU in the lead with field goal to start overtime, but WSU answered with five straight to regain the lead. SMSU rallied once again, and Phipps hit one of two free throws with just under a minute remaining to tie the game at 66.
 
Dillon however came through with the go-ahead field goal to put WSU back in front at 68-66 with 34 seconds left in overtime. SMSU missed a jumper on the ensuing possession and WSU grabbed the rebound and made two free throws to secure the victory.
 
SMSU returns to action on Thursday night in Sioux Falls, S.D., with its final road game of the regular season versus Augustana University with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.