BEMIDJI — The Southwest Minnesota State University mens basketball team scored 10 unanswered points to start its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchup against Bemidji State on Friday, and it never looked back. The Mustangs nearly tripped the Beavers’ score at halftime and ran away with an 85-55 win.

Mason Lund had the hot hand from long range for the Mustangs, shooting 5 of 8 from beyond the arc for a team-high 21 points. SMSU shot 54% from 3 and 55% from the field in the game, compared to Bemidji’s 9% and 22% clips.

Jakob Braaten grabbed seven rebounds, along with 12 points, to lead SMSU on the glass. Still, Bemidji State finished with a 15-3 edge in second-chance points.

Landon Pokorski dished out five assists for SMSU while Micah Schlaak scored in double figures with 11 points.

Henry Shannon III carried the Beavers on the glass and on the scoreboard, finishing with 28 points on 10 of 20 shooting as well as 20 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive glass.

SMSU improves to 9-5 overall and 7-2 in conference play with the win. The Mustangs get back in action tonight, heading to Romano Gymnasium for a matchup against Minnesota Duluth at 3:30 p.m.

SMSU 75, Bemidji State 69

BEMIDJI — A third-quarter surge made all the difference for the SMSU womens basketball team on Friday night as the Mustangs picked up a 75-69 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win over Bemidji State.

The Mustangs trailed 35-27 heading into the third quarter when it started to heat up. A pair of free throws from Allie Haabala, an Audrey Swanson 3 and a Brynn Busse layup gave SMSU 7 unanswered points to tie the game at 43-all with 3:42 left in the quarter. The teams traded jabs from there untila Kylan Gerads and-1 gave the Mustangs the lead as they surged to a 57-53 edge heading into the fourth.

Swanson and Nicole Maenke led SMSU offensively with 23 and 20 points, respectively. Swanson shot 9 of 18 from the field and also grabbed five rebounds, ranking second on the team to Natalie Nielsen’s six.

SMSU improves to 8-6 on the season (6-3 NSIC) and next takes on Minnesota Duluth in Duluth today at 5:30 p.m.