SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--A running jump shot in the middle of the lane as time expired from senior guard Jordan Riewer was the difference as the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team defeated Minnesota State Mankato 81-80 on Monday afternoon. The semifinal win vaulted MSUM into the tomorrow night's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship game.
 
The Dragons watched a 16-point second half lead evaporate as MSU Mankato utilized an 18-0 run to grab a 63-61 lead with 7:03 left in the game. Mankato's Zach Monaghan hit a three-pointer with five seconds remaining to give the Mavericks an 80-79 lead, only to be one-upped by Riewer's game winner as the buzzer sounded.
 
With the win, MSUM improves to 32-2 on the season and will play in the NSIC Championship Game for just the third time since the tournament began in 2000. Minnesota State Mankato drops to 24-7 with the loss.
 
Junior guard Tyler Vaughan was the go-to guy for the second straight night as he led the team with 21 points and three steals. Junior forward Isaac Sevlie had six rebounds to lead the Dragons and scored 14 points. Riewer led the team with six assists and scored 15 points, his final two being the biggest of the night. Sophomore guard Aaron Lien had 14 points and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the three-point line in the game.
 
The Dragons and Mavericks traded baskets back-and-forth in the opening minutes of the game, before the Dragons went on a 15-3 run to take a 33-20 with 5:06 remaining in the half. With Riewer on the bench with two fouls, freshman guard Tanner Kretchman scored four points in the run, including a deep two-pointer from the left wing to make the score 33-20. Mankato cut the lead to eight heading into the break after Monaghan made a layup as time expired in the first half.
 
The Dragons held a 16-point lead twice in the second half, their biggest lead of the game. Riewer drained a three in transition from the right wing to give MSUM a 59-43 lead, with 13:43 left, and senior forward Urbane Bingham converted a layup to make the score 61-45 30 seconds later.
 
The Mavericks began their 18-0 run after that point, as they made four three pointers to take the lead at 63-61. The lead changed hands four more times before Vaughan hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to put the Dragons up by four at 74-70.  A Maverick three-pointer from Mike Busack pulled Minnesota State within one, but Lien responded with a three of his own from the right wing, almost the exact same spot as the night before, and the Dragons led by four again at 79-75.
 
Monaghan's three capped a 5-0 run for the Mavericks, putting them ahead at 80-79 with five seconds remaining, setting the stage for Riewer, who went coast-to-coast and scored the game-winner for MSUM.
 
The Dragons will face the winner of Augustana and Northern State, slated for 8 p.m. tonight. The NSIC Championship will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night at the Sanford Pentagon.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons also won an NSIC semifinal game in walk-off fashion on Mar. 8, 2003. Jake Kruse intercepted a pass underneath his hoop and buried a 15 foot shot as time expired lifting the Dragons to a 79-78 overtime victory over Bemidji St. in St. Paul.