MARSHALL — Minnesota Crookston connected on 11 3-pointers and shot 52 percent in the second half, while limiting Southwest Minnesota State to just 37 percent shooting–its second lowest percentage of the season–to earn a 70-67 victory in NSIC men’s basketball on Friday night inside the R/A Facility.

UMC improves to 6-12 overall, 3-9 NSIC, while SMSU drops to 9-7 overall, 5-6 NSIC.

Kenny Byers, who had a 3-point field goal attempt to tie the game in the final seconds, led the Mustangs with 15 points and eight rebounds. Jake Phipps scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, while Logan Benson added a career-high 10 points with a pair of 3-pointers.

UMC’s Leonard Dixon scored 19 points on 7 of 14 shooting with four 3-pointers.

The Golden Eagles drilled seven 3-pointers in the first half in building a 36-30 halftime advantage.

UMC would maintain the lead for the entire second half, including building its largest lead of the game at 52-45 with 13:49 left in the game. UMC would later hold a seven-point, 54-47 advantage with 11 minutes remaining, before SMSU rallied to cut the deficit to one-point with just over five minutes on the clock.

Trailing 62-56, Byers hit a pair of free throws with just under six minutes left and was followed by a 3-pointer by Dunwa Omot at the 5:24 to make the score 62-61. UMC would turn the ball over on its next possession, but SMSU failed to regain on its next possession with a missed jumper.

SMSU would later have a chance to tie the game with just over three minutes remaining but would miss three of four free throws to keep the Golden Eagles in the lead.

UMC held a 70-64 lead with 26 seconds left before Byers drilled a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 70-67. UMC missed a pair of free throws moments later to give SMSU a chance for the tie, but Byers missed a pair of 3-pointers in the final six seconds.

Friday’s victory for UMC was its first over SMSU since Jan. 16, 2004, snapping a 23-game losing streak.

Southwest Minnesota State concludes the weekend homestand today taking on Bemidji State with game time set for 5:30 p.m.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications