MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State wheelchair basketball team opened play at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association tournament on Thursday with a 57-24 victory over the University of Missouri inside the R/A Facility.
 
SMSU, the No. 7 seed, will now play later Thursday at 8 p.m. inside the PE Gym versus No. 2 seed UW-Whitewater.
 
Joshua Brown poured in a game-high 18 points for the Mustangs on 9 of 14 shooting. Emmanuel Fuentes Cervantes, who was named the NWBA Player of the Year on Thursday, recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists, while grabbing six rebounds and registering three steals.
 
Fermin Wingerter, named a second team NWBA All-American on Thursday, added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Mustangs.
 
SMSU closed the game shooting 50 percent and held a 46-23 rebound advantage.