FAIRBANKS, AK. – Senior guard Jordan Riewer led the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team to its third consecutive victory to begin the season, scoring 21 points in an 86-75 win over West Alabama. MSUM defeated West Alabama in its first of three games in the Alaska Invitational.

The Dragons continued their success shooting the basketball on Thursday night, edging West Alabama in shooting percentage from the field and from beyond the three-point line. MSUM shot 53.8 percent (28-52) from the field and 55.6 percent (15-27) from the three-point line compared to 44.3 percent (27-61) and 50 percent (11-22) for the Tigers.

Riewer led all scorers in the game with 21 points, while also posting a team high eight assists. Sophomore Aaron Lien continued to rebound well from the guard position, grabbing seven rebounds to lead the Dragons while also scoring 11 points. Junior Ngijol Songolo added support off the bench once again for MSUM, scoring 17 points in 27 minutes of action.

The first six minutes of the game saw three ties occur before MSUM went on a 14-4 run to grab a 27-20 lead with 8:59 to go in the first half. Back-to-back three pointers from Songolo and Riewer gave the Dragons the lead at 20-16 at the 12:46 mark. Two free throws from Songolo gave MSUM its biggest lead of the first half at 43-35 to close the scoring out in the first half.

The Dragons came out of the locker room firing in the second half, hitting seven three-pointers in the first 10 minutes of the half. Lien began the brigade, followed by Songolo, then two from junior Tyler Vaughan, one from Riewer, another from Songolo, and finally one from freshman Tanner Kretchman. Another three-pointer from Riewer gave MSUM its biggest lead of the night at 75-60 and the Dragons went on to win 86-75.

The Dragons will take the court again tomorrow night against Black Hills State in Fairbanks, Alaska. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. Central time