Photo by Sam Thiel SMSU’s Cliff McCray drives the lane during their game against the University of Minnesota Morris on Monday. SMSU defeated Minnesota Morris 83-60.

MARSHALL — After spending its first few weeks of the season on the road, the Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team came back home on Monday, hosting the University of Minnesota Morris. The Mustangs and Cougars were locked in a tight battle early on, but a 14-0 run by SMSU in the second half was the difference en route to an 83-60 victory at the R/A Facility.

SMSU jumped out to a quick lead, as a Sam Schwartz layup and Anthony Costello jumper made it 8-2 before a layup by Kenny Byers pushed the advantage to 10-4 with 14:17 left in the first half. Minnesota Morris would draw to within one on a 3-pointer, but SMSU answered with a triple by Cliff McCray to make it 17-11 with 10:30 left in the half. Both teams then traded points over the next few minutes, with Dunwa Omot connecting on a 3-pointer before back-to-back baskets by the Cougars trimmed SMSU’s deficit to three at 26-23 with 5:16 left. The Mustangs continued to hold on to their lead, though, as a 3-pointer by Jake Phipps made it 35-27 before SMSU took a 35-29 lead going into halftime.

Both teams traded points to start the second half, with a 3-pointer by Minnesota Morris drawing the Cougars to within four before a triple by Omot and a jumper by Grant Kramer made it 46-37 with 15:10 left. SMSU would take its first double-digit lead at 51-41 on a 3-pointer by McCray, but Minnesota Morris had an answer, going on a 9-2 run to get to within three at 53-50 with 10:30 to go.

But that was the closest the Cougars got the rest of the way, as SMSU responded with layups by Logan Benson and Byers to push its lead to 62-50 with 8:45 left. The Mustangs continued to extend their advantage, with a layup by Phipps giving SMSU a 67-50 lead and never let it get below 11 en route to the 83-60 final.

McCray led SMSU with 19 points, tying a career-high, while Phipps, Kramer, Byers and Costello each added 12. Schwartz led in rebounding with a career-high 11 while Phipps and Byers each added seven. Schwartz also led in assists with a career-high six while McCray and Byers each added four. As a team, SMSU connected on 45.2% from the field (33 of 73), including draining seven 3-pointers (7 of 22) and making 10 of its 17 free-throw attempts.

SMSU coach Brad Bigler said offensively, especially during their second-half run, they were able to play with better pace and created more of a balanced attack.

“I thought we had a better pace,” Bigler said. “Our rhythm was better where we were actually not just putting our head down and trying to force a play but we were seeing things and playing instinctively off of each other.”

Defensively, SMSU limited Minnesota Morris to just 35.4% shooting (23 of 65) and forced 13 turnovers. Bigler said they have several players with a lot of experience who can guard multiple positions and that’s been a key to their success on the defensive end.

“Just our personnel in general,” Bigler said. “We have a lot of guys who can guard multiple positions and have been in the program for a few years, so it’s just about our ability to anticipate and have each other’s back.”

Up next

SMSU (5-1) will hit the road on Thursday, taking on Wayne State College at 5:30 p.m. Bigler said their next stretch of games against division opponents is going to be extremely challenging and they will need to be ready to go from the start.

“These next six games we’re looking at a very competitive South Division,” Bigler said. “With last year not really having a season, you forget how physical and how intense each game is in the South Division and it’s going to be a battle every night.”

SMSU 83, Minnesota Morris 60

Minnesota Morris 29 31 – 60

SMSU 35 48 – 83

Scoring: SMSU (McCray 7-11, 3-6 19; Kramer 5-9, 0-0 12; Byers 4-13, 4-5 12; Phipps 5-11, 1-4 12; Costello 5-10, 2-2 12; Omot 2-6, 0-0 6; Schwartz 2-7, 0-0 4; Benson 1-3, 0-0 2; Chamberlain 1-1, 0-0 2; Zinniel 1-2, 0-0 2).

Rebounds: SMSU 50 (Schwartz 11; Byers, Phipps 7; McCray 6).

Assists: SMSU 18 (Schwartz 6; McCray, Byers 4).

Steals: SMSU 7 (Omot 3; Schwartz 2; McCray, Kramer 1).