MOORHEAD, Minn. – The No. 19 Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team dropped its opening-round game of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament on Wednesday night to Concordia-St. Paul, 86-78. Senior forward Ayob Ayob led MSUM with 20 points.

MSUM fell to 24-5 on the season while CSP improved to 6-24.
 
How it happened…
MSUM jumped out to a 13-2 lead early in the first half. The Dragons pushed their lead to 18 points, a game high, leading 33-15 with 4:47 left in the first half. Concordia-St. Paul ended the first half on a 13-5 run, pulling the game to 38-28 at halftime.
 
Ayob and sophomore forward Addison Park each had eight points at halftime, a team-high.
 
In the second half, the Golden Bears picked up right where they left off, using a 7-3 run bringing the deficit to 41-37. Five points from Ayob and a layup from senior guard Aaron Lien put MSUM up 48-39 with 14:34 left in the game.
 
Concordia-St. Paul kept chipping away at the lead, eventually taking control for the first time of the game at the 7:35 mark, leading 62-61. Lien was quick to answer with a layup of his own, giving MSUM back the lead. The lead changed three more times over the next two minutes and change, until CSP took the lead for the final time.
 
MSUM tried to get back into the game, but missed free throws on the Dragons end and the Golden Bears going 11-for-12 from the charity stripe in the final minutes contributed to the final score in favor of Concordia-St. Paul, 86-78.
 
MSUM finished the game 25-of-58 from the field (43.1 percent), including a season-low 6-of-25 from beyond the arc.
 
Impact Performances…
Senior forward Ayob Ayob led the way with his third double-double of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Ayob also had two steals and one block.
 
Senior guard Aaron Lien finished with a double-double, 15 points and 10 rebounds, his second of the season. Lien went 5-of-10 from the field with one assist and two blocks.
 
Junior guard Tanner Kretchman had six assists to go along with 14 points. Kretchman was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game…
Tonight marks the third time that an eight seed ousted a one seed and the first time it has happened since divisional play began. The only times a #1 seed got beat in the first round of the NSIC tournament was when Southwest Minnesota State won 80-78 at MSU Mankato on Mar. 3, 2010 and Northern State bested Southwest Minnesota State 72-63 on Mar.4, 2009.
 
Up Next…
The Dragons will need to receive one of the five at-large bids to continue their season in the NCAA tournament. The selection show will take place on Sunday, March 5.