MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State University Moorhead (4-1) had nine players score in the first half on the way to a 107-74 win over crosstown rival Concordia (1-2) on Tuesday night. Senior forward Ayob Ayob led all Dragons with 23 points.

How it happened…
The Dragons jumped on the board on its first possession, with senior forward Matt Nelson rolling to the hoop for a lay in off an assist from junior guard Tanner Kretchman. Three-point baskets from Kretchman, Lien, senior guard Jon Doss, and senior forward Ayob Ayob helped build a 20-9 lead with just under 13 minutes remaining. MSUM played exquisite defense, holding the Cobbers to just four points over the next five minutes, as the Dragons build their lead to 33-13, eventually heading into halftime up 52-31. Ayob led all scorers with 11 points in the first half off 3-of-5 from the field. The Dragons shot 20-of-35 in the first half (57.1 percent), while holding Concordia to just 13-of-31 (41.9 percent).

Out of the half the Cobbers used an 11-6 run to cut the lead to 16, but a quick dunk by Ayob pushed the lead for MSUM to 60-42 with 15 minutes left in the second half. Concordia got hot from the field, cutting the Dragons lead to 12 just under halfway through the second half. Solid defense and big second halves from Ayob and Lien maintained the Dragons lead, eventually winning by a final score of 107-74.

Concordia had the slight edge on the glass outrebounding MSUM 32-31. The Dragons finished the game with 20 assists to just four turnovers.

Impact Performances…
For the third-straight game Ayob Ayob led the way offensively for the Dragons tallying 23 points off 8-of-12 from the field. The senior went 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe, hauled in four rebounds and had one assist.

Aaron Lien shot an impressive 6-of-7 from the field with 19 total points. He was a
perfect 3-of-3 from the three-point line and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Tanner Kretchman added 15 points for MSUM on 6-of-9 from the field. He hit three three-pointers and had six assists to just two turnovers.
Dragon Quick Hit…
The Dragons are 32-2 in the month of November under Chad Walthall. Their only losses during this stretch were to Concordia College 83-78 on Nov. 23, 2011 and ten days ago in Bethany, Oklahoma against Southern Nazarene, 91-87.

Up Next…
MSUM opens up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Northern State. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.