SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 9/13 ranked Southwest Minnesota State used 23 points from Dunwa Omot and 20 points from Aeron Stevens to pull away and defeat the University of Sioux Falls 88-81 on Saturday in NSIC men's basketball inside the Stewart Center.
 
SMSU remains alone atop the NSIC standings with a 13-3 mark and improves to 18-4 overall. USF falls to 12-10 overall, 8-8 NSIC.
 
Omot made 8 of 12 shots with three 3-pointers, while Stevens closed 7 of 15 shooting a perfect 5 of 5 from the foul line. The Mustangs also used big games from Steven Kramer (19) and Jakob Braaten (18), who both finished in double figure scoring. Kramer made 7 of 10 shots and was 5 of 5 from the free throw line.
 
SMSU shot 57 percent (31 of 54) from the field with four 3-pointers, while making 22 of 26 from the free throw line, including making several clutch free throws in the final minutes.
 
USF was led by Creighton Morsich's 20 points making 7 of 11 shots with two 3-pointers. The Cougars finished the day shooting 48 percent (28 of 59) with 10 3-pointers. Kyle Ingwerson made  game-high four 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for USF.
 
SMSU ended the game with a 29-27 rebound advantage with Mason Lund pulling down a team-high six rebounds.
 
The first half featured five ties and five lead changes in closely contested opening 20 minutes. USF scored the game's first six points and maintained the lead for much of the first 14 minutes before SMSU took its first lead of the game. Trailing 25-21, SMSU scored six straight—with four by Caleb Schlaak—to take a 27-25 advantage with six minutes remaining in the half.
 
USF would later build a 33-30 lead but SMSU answered with a 12-6 run late in the half to regain the lead at 42-39 following a jumper from Steven Kramer with 27 seconds left. USF hit a jumper in the final seconds to cut the deficit to 42-41 at the break.
 
Both teams shot outstanding in the opening half with SMSU shooting 58 percent with three 3-pointers, while USF made four 3-pointers and finished shooting 55 percent. Stevens led SMSU with 12 points, while Omot scored 11 in the first 20 minutes.
 
SMSU would hold a five-point lead several times in the opening minutes of the second half, but USF answered and took the lead back at 52-50 with just over 14 minutes remaining.
 
The teams exchange the lead numerous times over the next four minutes with USF holding a 62-60 advantage midway through the half. The Cougars held a 64-63 lead before Braaten scored on back-to-back layups to put the Mustangs back in front with 8:33 remaining.
 
USF hit a field goal to pull within one, but Omot drilled SMSU's lone 3-pointer of the second with 7:30 left to extend the lead to 70-66. The field goal sparked a big run as SMSU eventually pushed the lead to 76-66 following a Braaten field goal at the 4:18 mark.
 
USF would not go away and drilled three 3-pointers in the final 1:10 to cut the deficit to 84-81 with 15 seconds left. SMSU however continued to make big free throws to seal the victory and earn its fifth straight over USF and seven of the last eight meetings. Braaten, Omot and Kramer combined to go 8 of 8 from the foul line in the final 52 seconds.
 
SMSU continues road play on Wednesday with a big match-up versus Minnesota Duluth starting at 5:30 p.m.