SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- A 20-2 run over the final seven minutes of the first half propelled the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team to a 71-60 win over Central Missouri in the NCAA Central Region Tournament semifinals on Sunday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

MSUM improved to 34-3 on the year with the win, while Central Missouri, the defending Division II national champions, ended the year at 25-7.

The Dragons will face the winner of the Augustana/Northwest Missouri State game (which tips off at 7:30 p.m. tonight) in the Central Region title game at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Sioux Falls.

A balanced attack – led by seniors Prescott Williams and Urbane Bingham – and a stellar defensive effort over the final 30 minutes helped the Dragons reach the Sweet Sixteen in Division II for the first time in school history.

Williams had his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds to pace MSUM, while Bingham had 16 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Senior point guard Jordan Riewer, who was named to the Daktronics All-Central Region First Team on Monday, had a solid all-around game with 11 points, six assists and a game-high five steals.
 


MSUM shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) for the game compared to 42.9 percent (24-of-56) for Central Missouri. The Mules had a slight 33-32 edge in rebounds.
MSUM trailed 20-15 with 7:18 left in the first half but used defense and efficient offense to surge into control with a 20-2 run. The Dragons held Central Missouri to just two points over the final seven minutes of the first half, and held the Mules without a point for more than six minutes.

Meanwhile, Bingham and Williams were catalysts on offense during that run, providing eight and five points, respectively as MSUM took a 35-22 lead into halftime.

Bingham had 13 first-half points while Williams had 10. MSUM shot 46.7 percent (14-of-30) in the first half compared to 40 percent (10-of-25) for the Mules.
The Dragons didn't rest on their halftime lead. They opened the second half on a 14-6 run to push the lead to 49-28 with 16:19 left, which was their largest lead of the night. MSUM hit four 3-pointers during that run, led by Williams with two and Riewer and junior guard Tyler Vaughan with one each.

The Mules battled back to within 61-52 with 3:24 left, but MSUM slammed the door on any potential rally by going 10-of-12 from the free-throw line in the final 3:16, led by an 8-of-8 effort from Riewer.

Vaughan had nine points and five rebounds while sophomore guard Aaron Lien had eight.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Today was the Dragon's fourth NCAA win it the history of the program. The Dragons beat Northern Colorado 75-73 in Grand Forks, N.D. on Mar. 5, 1965, defeated Southwest Minn. St. 82-66 on Mar. 10, 2012, beat Pitt. St. yesterday and Central Missouri today.  The victory over Northern Colorado (50 years and 10 days ago) was the only other time the Dragons have been in the NCAA Sweet 16.