MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State University Moorhead improved to 22-4 overall and 17-3 in the NSIC after blowing past Minnesota Crookston on senior night, 103-68. Just minutes after the game concluded, Northern State fell to Bemidji State to guarantee a share of the NSIC North title for MSUM for the fourth straight year.
 
 Just over an hour after the game concluded, Southwest Minnesota State, the only other team who was one game behind the Dragons lost to Augustana clinching a share of the regular season title for MSUM.
 
How it happened…
Minnesota Crookston jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but eight-straight points from senior forward Ayob Ayob had MSUM down 9-8 with 15:43 in the first half.
 
 A three-point basket from senior guard Jon Doss at the 9:13 mark of the first half gave the Dragons a two-point lead, a lead they wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the game. MSUM entered halftime up 46-36.
 
The Dragons scored 20 points in the paint in the first half, while shooting 53.1 percent from the field (17-of-32).
 
MSUM blew the game open in the second half, shooting 64.1 percent from the field. The Dragons led by as many as 38 points in the second half as they cruised to their 17th conference win of the season.
 
The Dragons held Minnesota Crookston to just 11-of-31 from the field in the second half. MSUM finished the game with 19 assists to seven turnovers.
 
Impact Performances…
Junior guard Tanner Kretchman made history tonight as he set a new record at MSUM for most all-time assists. Kretchman now sits at 440 assists. Kretchman scored a team-high 17 points and finished with seven assists.
 
Freshman forward Matt Anderson recorded his first double-double in a Dragons uniform, dropping 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds off the bench.
 
Senior guard Aaron Lien added 13 points and seven rebounds.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game…
Including tonight's win, Aaron Lien started 101 game and has played in all 130 games that the Dragons have played the past four years, helping the Dragons to a 108-22 record. The Dragons have also won four straight NSIC North titles, won the overall NSIC regular season three years ago, a share of the regular season title this season, has played in two NCAA tournaments to date, as well as a trip to the Elite Eight his sophomore year. Ayob Ayob played in his 60th Dragon game (41 as a starter) and the Dragons are 52-8 when he has seen the floor.
 
Up Next…
MSUM concludes the regular season on the road with games at St. Cloud State on Feb. 17 and Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 18.