CROOKSTON, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons men's squad headed north to Crookston to take on last place Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles. The Dragons would finish their season with an impressive 77-69 win over the Golden Eagles.

The Dragons and Golden Eagles started the game with very defensive play. Sophomore Dennis Williamson hit a jumper to give the Dragons a four-point lead with 16:19 to play. One possession later for the Dragons, senior Jerome Nelson drained his only three-pointer of the half to give the Dragons a lead of five.

Three minutes later, sophomore Jake Driscoll hit a pair of consecutive three-point jumpers after the Golden Eagles had tied the game for the second time. After 10 minutes of play the teams combined for 34 points.

With the lead trimmed to four with two minutes remaining, Driscoll hit his third three-pointer to push the lead up to seven. Just 15 seconds later, Nelson stole the ball off of Jason Servaty and dished it to Driscoll for another consecutive pair of three-point jump shots.

Nelson hit a jump shot but was answered by Matt Heier with three seconds remaining and the Dragons went into the locker room at halftime up by 10. The Dragons spread the scoring as five players had at least five points, including Driscoll who led the Dragons with 13 as the team finished the half, up 42-32.

The Dragons turned to their big men to start as a pair of freshman Alex Novak free throws and a pair of Williamson jumpers put the Dragons up by 11 just 1:45 into the second half.

Slowly, the lead began to close for the Dragons as the second half reached the midway point. By the media timeout, the lead was only six points. With Williamson in foul trouble, Novak stepped up for the Dragons. By forcing missed shots in the paint and hitting critical free throws, the Dragons did prevent a Golden Eagle comeback.

With 7:27 to play, Novak's jumper gave him 18 points, tying a career high. This was the second game in a row Novak reached the 18-point mark, the third time all season. One minute later, a Williamson jumper gave the Dragons a nine-point lead.

At the 3:52 mark, Novak would reach 20 points for the first time in his collegiate career on a jumper after rebounding a Nelson missed three-pointer. On the next Dragon possession, Driscoll hit a three-point jumper to push the Dragon lead to seven.

As the game entered the final minute, Williamson received a quick pass from Driscoll and put it up to push the Dragons lead up to three possessions. Novak would end all hope for the Golden Eagles as he threw down his second dunk of the game, as the Dragons lead was pushed to 10 with 17 seconds to play for his 22 point of the game. The Dragons held on for a 77-69 win.

Novak finished the game with a career-high 22 points, along with 6 rebounds and one block. That block gives the freshman 69 total on the season to lead the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Novak broke the record in a road test at Mankato on February 6.

The Dragons ended the game with four players in double figures. Williamson finished with 14 points and led the Dragons with nine rebounds. Nelson, in his final game as a Dragon, tallied 10 points. Driscoll's five three-pointers and free throw shot gave him 16 total points on the night and led the Dragons with five assists.

The Dragons finish the season with a record to 10-17 on the season (7-13 NSIC). The loss drops the Golden Eagles to 5-22 (1-19 NSIC).