MARSHALL, Minn. – The University of Sioux Falls rallied from a 12-point deficit with less than six minutes left in the game, using a key 16-0 run, to stun Southwest Minnesota State and earn an 81-78 victory in NSIC men's college basketball.
 
SMSU had its six-game winning streak snapped and falls to 8-5 overall, 6-2 NSIC, while USF picked up its third straight win and improves to 5-8 overall, 3-5 NSIC.
 
Mekhi Shaw and Jakob Braaten each scored a team-high 22 points for SMSU, while Braaten closed with a game-high eight rebounds. Micah Schlaak added 12 points while Mason Lund scored 11 for the Mustangs.
 
USF held a 37-32 rebound advantage including pulling down 16 offensive rebounds. USF also forced SMSU into a season-high 17 turnovers.
 
USF's Brogan Madson scored a game-high 23 points while adding four steals and four assists.
 
Braaten connected on a 3-pointer with 5:51 left in the game to give SMSU its largest lead of the game at 67-55. USF however rallied with 16 straight points to take a 71-67 lead with 2:31 remaining.
 
SMSU answered with two free throws by Shaw and a three-point play by Braaten with 1:45 left to put the Mustangs back in front at 72-71, but USF countered with Madson scoring a field goal with 1:19 remaining to regain the lead. Following a missed field goal by SMSU, Madson scored again with 45 seconds left to push the lead to 75-72. SMSU had another chance to tie the game but a turnover ended SMSU's comeback attempt.
 
SMSU finished the game shooting 55 percent (29 of 53) from the field including making 10 of 18 from 3-point range. USF shot 44 percent (30 of 69) and made 8 of 25 from 3-point range.
 
SMSU started the game scoring the first nine points in the opening four minutes. Shaw hit back-to-back field goals to give SMSU a 13-4 advantage with 14 minutes left in the half.
 
USF started to heat-up from the field and used a 10-0 run to take its first lead at 14-13 at the 8:31 mark. The Cougars would later hold a 26-23 lead with four minutes left before the Mustangs used a 12-2 run highlighted by two 3-pointers by Mason Lund and another by Shaw to make the score 35-28 with 1:19 remaining. USF countered with five straight points to close the half and trim the deficit to 35-33 at halftime.
 
USF connected on six 3-pointers in the first half to overcome 31 percent shooting. SMSU shot 54 percent in the half with three 3-pointers.
 
SMSU continues league play next Friday, Jan. 9, with a 5:30 p.m. match-up at Bemidji State.