MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State University Moorhead (10-2, 5-1 NSIC) bounced back after its first conference loss on Saturday with a dominate performance over the Comets of Mayville State (6-5, 0-4 NSAA), winning 81-59. Senior guard Jon Doss registered a team-high 16 points for MSUM.
 
How it happened…
The Dragons took control of the game early on, grabbing a 10 point lead after just three minutes of play, up 13-3. A 16-0 run from MSUM helped put the game out of reach early on. A barrage of three pointers ballooned the lead to 34 points, with the Dragons taking a 54-24 lead into halftime. MSUM made eight threes in the first half, while shooting 58.6 percent from the field (17-of-29). The Dragons played excellent defense, allowing Mayville State to go just 9-of-35 from the field (25.7 percent). Doss scored a team-high 16 points in the first half, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line.
 
Throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half the Comets outscored the Dragons 19-10 drawing the game to a margin of 21, the closest it would get in the second half. MSUM quickly answered with some offensive production from freshman guard Evan Hines, senior forward Matt Nelson and freshman guard Johnny Beeninga pushed the lead back to 29, with the Dragons coasting to the end winning by a final score of 81-59.The Dragons outscored the Comets 18-14 in the paint in the second half.
 
MSUM finished the contest 28-of-59 from the field (47.5 percent), while holding Mayville State to 23-of-71 from the field (32.4 percent). The Dragons finished with a 44-37 rebound advantage, and had 17 assists to 14 turnovers.
 
Impact Performances…
Five players finished the contest in double figures, with 11 total recording points for the Dragons.
 
Senior guard Jon Doss had a team high 16 points, all in the first half, off 3-of-7 from the field. Doss shot 3-of-5 from deep and 7-for-7 at the free throw line. All while hauling in six rebounds, with two blocks, one steal and one assist.
 
Senior forward Ayob Ayob scored 12 points off 5-of-10 from the field. Ayob also had one assist and one steal.
 
Freshman guard Evan Hines shot 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds.
 
Senior forward Matt Nelson hauled in a team-high seven rebounds, and contributed 10 points for the Dragons, while junior guard Tanner Kretchman also had 10 points. Kretchman had seven assists to just one turnover.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game…
Tonight was the 20th consecutive non-conference home win versus a team located in North Dakota. The Dragons' last loss was a 76-66 setback to the University of North Dakota on Dec. 7, 2004.
 
Up Next…
MSUM continues its home stand after the holidays with a pair of NSIC games against Minnesota State Mankato (Dec. 30) and Concordia St.-Paul (Dec. 31).