MANKATO, Minn. – Majok Majouk scored a career-high 20 points, including a school single-game record 6 for 6 from 3-point range, while Jake Phipps added 19 points with four 3-pointers to pace Southwest Minnesota State to a 73-67 victory over Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball on Friday inside the Taylor Center.
 
SMSU, which snapped a two-game losing streak, trailed 36-32 at halftime, but score the first 19 points of the second half to help build a 19-point advantage. SMSU, which ranks first in the NSIC in field goal percentage defense, limited MSU to 2 for 22 shooting in the first 12 minutes of the second half.
 
The victory is the fourth straight for SMSU in the series versus MSU and improves the Mustangs to 14-8 overall, 10-7 NSIC. SMSU is currently in a three-way tie for second place in the NSIC South Division standings. MSU drops to 14-9 overall, 8-9 NSIC.
 
Majouk's three-point performance set the new single-game record (minimum six made) which was previous held by Jordan Miller's 8 for 9 game on Nov. 17, 2009.
 
SMSU closed the game shooting 51 percent (23 of 45), including a season-high tying 14 3-pointers on 24 attempts. MSU was limited to 34 percent (26 of 77) shooting, while making just 7 of 33 from 3-point range.
 
Dunwa Omot also reached double-figure scoring for SMSU with 17 points on 6 of 12 with three 3-pointers. Phipps pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, while Majouk grabbed seven rebounds. Jakob Braaten chipped in with nine points, while Cliff McCray added seven points, five assists and four rebounds.
 
MSU held a 46-34 rebound advantage, including recording 23 offensive rebounds, which led to a 15-6 scoring advantage on second-chance points. Kyreese Willingham led the Mavericks with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
 
The opening half featured 11 lead changes and five ties with SMSU building its largest lead at 23-17 following a Majouk 3-pointer at the 7:16 mark.
 
MSU answered with an 8-0 spurt to regain the lead before Jake Phipps converted a three-point play to give SMSU a 26-25 advantage with just under five minutes left in the half.
 
Phipps and Majouk would each drill 3-pointer later in the half to push the Mustang lead to 32-29, but the Mavericks answered with a 7-0 to close the half and build a 36-32 halftime advantage.
 
Majouk and Phipps each scored nine points in the opening half to pace the Mustangs.
 
SMSU exploded out the gate in the second half scoring the first 16 points with four 3-pointers in building a 48-36 lead with 13 minutes remaining.
 
The Mustang advantage would eventually grow to 59-40 at the 7:39 mark following a 3-pointer by Omot. The Mavericks countered with seven straight points and held the Mustangs scoreless for three minutes before Omot hit a big jumper to make the score 61-47.
 
Majouk's final 3-pointer gave the Mustangs a 64-51 lead with just over two minutes left, but MSU would continue to fight back and cut the deficit to 69-63 with 22 seconds on the clock. SMSU however fended off the comeback with four free throws to seal the win.
 
SMSU concludes its four-game road trip on Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. match-up at Concordia-St. Paul. CSP earned its third straight win on Friday night defeating NSIC South Division leading Sioux Falls, 69-67.