MINOT, N.D. – The combination of junior
Tyler Vaughan, junior
Isaac Sevlie and senior
Jordan Riewer combined for 59 points to help the No. 13-ranked Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team earn a 71-56 win over Minot State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday night in Minot, N.D.
MSUM improved to 18-1 overall and 9-1 in the NSIC with its sixth straight win, while Minot State fell to 9-7 overall and 4-6 in the league.
Vaughan scored a season-high 21 points for the Dragons, while Sevlie had 20 points and Riewer 18. Riewer also led with seven rebounds and five assists while Sevlie had three blocks.
MSUM shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field for the game, including 60 percent (15-of-25) in the second half. The Beavers shot 43.1 percent (22-of-51). The Dragons held a 31-30 edge in rebounds.
The game was tied 24-24 at halftime and MSUM faced a 26-24 deficit early in the second half before going on a 20-7 run to take a 44-33 lead with 12:23 left. Vaughan (eight points), Sevlie (seven) and Riewer (five) combined for all of the points in that run for MSUM.
The Dragons' lead never dropped below eight points the rest of the way.
MSUM faced a 5-0 deficit to start the game but responded by outscoring the Beavers 21-8 over the next 12 minutes to take a 21-13 lead. Minot State battled back late in the half and managed to tie the game at 24-24 at halftime.
Sevlie had 11 first-half points for MSUM, who shot just 30 percent (9-of-30) in the first half, including 10 percent (1-of-10) from three-point range.
In the second half, MSUM hit 7-of-11 three-pointers (63.6 percent). Vaughan had 16 points in the second half while Riewer had 14.
MSUM continues play on the road next Friday, Jan. 16 when it plays at the University of Sioux Falls for an 8 p.m. game.
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons have now won 18 games in a row against teams based in North Dakota. Their last loss to a team that resides in the Peach Garden state was 72-51 in Bismarck to the University of Mary on Jan. 7, 2012.
