MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball earned a dramatic come from behind victory in its home opener on Saturday afternoon rallying from a 20-point deficit to stun Wayne State 75-71.
 
SMSU improves to 3-4 overall, 2-1 NSIC, while WSC drops to 5-4 overall, 1-2 NSIC.
 
Jakob Braaten led the Mustangs with a team-high 22 points while adding six assists and five steals. Aeron Stevens and Micah Schlaak each scored 13 points while Landon Pokorski added 12 points.
 
WSC held a 48-33 lead with 15 minutes left in the game, but SMSU used a key 11-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer by Schlaak and two 3-pointers from Pokorski.
 
SMSU eventually took its first lead of the game with nine minutes remaining on a Mekhi Shaw layup. The field goal was part of a 10-0 run that saw SMSU rally from a 53-47 deficit to taking a 57-53 lead with 7:57 left in the game and the Mustangs never trailed again.
 
SMSU held a four-point lead three times later in the half, including 64-60 with four minutes remaining. WSC trimmed the deficit to one point on three occasions, including 68-67 with 2:16 left before Braaten completed a three-point play to make the score 71-67 at the 2:03 mark.
 
WSC added a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left to cut SMSU's lead to 73-71 and following SMSU's lone turnover of the second half, had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final 10 seconds, but Noll's field goal was blocked by Calvin Buss with six second remaining and Schlaak came down with the rebound. Schlaak iced the game moments later with two clutch free throws to give the Mustangs a four-point cushion.
 
SMSU finished the game shooting 48 percent (24 of 50) from the field with nine 3-pointers. The Mustangs committed 12 turnovers in the first half leading to 16 points for the Wildcats, but were charged with just one turnover in the second half.
 
WSC, which used a game-high 23 points from Matt Noll, closed the game shooting 41 percent (24 of 58), while making seven 3-pointers.
 
SMSU struggled in the opening half with WSC holding a 13-3 advantage eight minutes into the game. WSC was able to extend the margin to its largest of the game at 41-21 with 1:55 left in the half before taking a 42-24 lead at halftime.
 
SMSU will have a short turnaround with another home game on Monday morning taking on North Central University at 11 a.m. The game is part of 'Elementary and Community Day' with free admission for all fans.