WINONA – Winona State’s Tommy Gathje hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining to help the Warriors rally for a 78-75 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men’s basketball on Friday night at McCown Gym.

SMSU (10-5, 6-3 NSIC) shot 50 percent (31 of 62) from the field for the game, but made just 6 of 22 from 3-point range. WSU (9-6, 4-5 NSIC) connected on 51 percent (28 of 55) from the field, but drilled 12 3-pointers on 25 attempts.

Ryan Bruggeman led the Mustangs with 22 points on 8 of 14 shooting, while Carter Kirk recorded his team-leading sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Nick Dufault added 11 points for the Mustangs with three 3-pointers.

Kevion Taylor led the Warriors with a career-high 21 points, connecting on four 3-pointers, while adding 11 rebounds. Gathje added 17 points and drilled three 3-pointers.

SMSU committed just six turnovers, while WSU finished with 10 turnovers, which helped SMSU to a 21-4 advantage in points off of turnovers.

SMSU used an early an 8-0 run, highlighted by five straight points by Kirk, to build a 14-6 advantage. The lead was trimmed to 16-12, before Dufault connected on a jumper to spark a run of six straight points by the Mustangs to take its first double-digit lead of the game at 22-12 with 11:55 remaining in the half.

SMSU would hold a 26-16 lead following a KJ Davis layup with 8:35 left, before WSU would slowly cut into the lead and eventually tie the game at 34 with 2:50 remaining.

The Warriors’ first half rally was complete with just over a minute left in the half on a Cory Jeffs 3-pointer to give WSU a 40-39 lead. Bruggeman would give SMSU the lead back on the next possession with a field goal, before WSU answered with a late layup to take a 41-40 lead into the halftime break.

SMSU shot 57 percent in the first half, but was just 2 of 9 from 3-point range. WSU was also red-hot in the first half shooting 52 percent and made 7 of 13 from 3-point land.

Taylor started the second half strong scoring nine points in the first four and a half minutes to give WSU a 51-46 lead. Dufault answered for SMSU with back-to-back 3-pointers to put SMSU back in front at 52-51.

Dufault would hit his third 3-pointer of the game to give SMSU a 58-57 advantage at the 12:49 mark, before WSU went back in front moments later with a layup.

SMSU would then reel off an 11-2 run over a four-minute span to build its largest lead of the half at 70-62 with 7:55 remaining following a basket by Kirk.

WSU wouldn’t go away and held SMSU scoreless for more than five minutes, using an 11-0 run, to regain the lead at 73-70 at the 3:10 mark.

Bruggeman ended the run with a jumper and following a WSU missed field goal, Bruggeman hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 73 with 2:03 left. SMSU grabbed the rebound after the second free throw missed and Bruggeman was fouled with 1:42 remaining and hit a pair of free throws to give the Mustangs its last season of the game at 75-73.

On the ensuing WSU possession, Gathje hit a 3-pointer that bounced several times on the rim before going in and putting the Warriors back in front.

Following a missed jumper on SMSU’s next possession, WSU would miss a pair of 3-pointers, but were able to record the offensive rebound both times and was fouled with 16 seconds remaining. Following two free throws to make it a three-point game, SMSU had a pair of chances to tie the game in the closing seconds, but Dufault and Bruggeman missed 3-pointers to seal the win over WSU.

Southwest Minnesota State closes out the weekend on Saturday night facing Upper Iowa University in Fayette with tip-off set for 6 p.m. SMSU defeated UIU 93-86 earlier this season on Dec. 1 in Marshall.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications