MSU Moorhead Athletics

ST. CLOUD, Minn.--Five Minnesota State University Moorhead players scored in double digits as the Dragon men's basketball team defeated St. Cloud State 98-85 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Friday night.

No. 14 MSUM remained perfect on the season, increasing its record to 12-0 overall and 4-0 in the NSIC. The 12-0 start is MSUM's best since 2011-12, when it advanced to the NCAA regional tournament. St. Cloud State fell to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the NSIC with the loss.

The Dragons shot 47.5 percent (28-59) from the field compared to 51.7 percent (30-58) for the Huskies. MSUM hit 10-of-23 (43.5 percent) from the three-point line while St. Cloud State hit 8-of-18 (44.4 percent). The Dragons outrebounded the Huskies 35-32 and caused 11 turnovers by SCSU. MSUM was able to capitalize on those 11 turnovers, scoring 19 points off turnovers in the game.

 

Senior guard Jordan Riewer led the team with 19 points and added a game high four assists. Junior guard Tyler Vaughan led the team with nine rebounds and three steals while contributing 16 points. Other Dragons to score in double digits included sophomore guard Aaron Lien (17), junior forward Isaac Sevlie (16), and junior guard Ngijol Songolo (12).

MSUM started the game on a 12-0 run, holding the Huskies scoreless for the first four minutes, 56 seconds of the game. Vaughan got the scoring starting with a fast break layup after a steal on the defensive end. Vaughan picked the pockets of St. Cloud State again, then found Riewer, who hit a three-pointer to make the score 9-0 at the 16:49 mark. Sevlie finished a three-point play to make the score 12-0. Sevlie had seven points in the early run. MSUM went on another run later in the first half, this one an 11-0 stretch that gave the Dragons a 30-13 lead. Lien hit two three-pointers, followed by a three from freshman guard Tanner Kretchman, then a dunk from senior guard Prescott Williams after a steal. Vaughan cleaned up the glass and tipped home a basket at the end of the half to give the Dragons a 45-31 lead heading into the break.

The Dragons' largest lead was 25, occurring twice in the second half, first at 71-46 with 11:48 left in the game after a Songolo three-pointer and again at 77-52 after a Kretchman three-pointer with 7:45 left. St. Cloud State cut the lead to 10 with 46 seconds left to play, but the Dragons executed from the free throw line late, sinking 11-of-12 in the final two minutes to secure a 98-85 victory.

MSUM will now travel to Duluth, Minn. to face Minnesota Duluth Saturday at 6 p.m.

Steve d'Eustachio  Stat of the Game: The Dragons are now 4-3 against St. Cloud St. since head coach Chad Walthall took over the program, and the Dragons currently have a winning record against every team in the NSIC North.