CROOKSTON, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team dropped a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road contest to the University of Minnesota Crookston, 108-88. Senior guard Travaun Coad had a career-high 28 points on the night.
The Dragons fall to 6-4 overall and 0-2 in the NSIC while the Golden Eagles improve to 7-3 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC.
Coad's 28 points led the Dragons, and freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner followed 18 points. Junior guard Johnny Beeninga and freshman guard Siman Sem also scored in double-digits with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Freshman center Jesse Bergh lead the team with eight rebounds. Freshman guard Bryce Irseld had a team-best six assists.
MSUM 55.9 percent (33-of-59) from the field while UMC shot 57.4 (39-of-68). MSUM outrebounded UMC 32 to 25.
UMC jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but a free-throws from Park and a dunk from Sem tied things up 4-4. The Dragons saw their first lead of the night after a layup from Coad brought the score to 11-9. UMC would go on an 11-point run over the next three minutes to give the Golden Eagles a 20-11 lead. Four MSUM players would contribute points in an eight-point run to bring the Dragons within one at 20-19. The Dragons pulled within one at 23-22 with six minutes remaining, but UMC would outscore MSUM 20-8 down the stretch for a 43-31 halftime lead.
Coad had 10 first-half points for the Dragons, while Bergh contributed seven rebounds.
The Dragons pulled within four in the second half at 54-50 off a three-pointer from Beeninga. MSUM got within striking range again at the 12:07 mark at 67-62 off another three from Beeninga. The Golden Eagles continued to pressure the Dragons and pulled away late for a 108-88 win.
MSUM will play at Bemidji State Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight's loss marks the first time that the Dragons dropped their first two NSIC games on the road since the 2008/2009 season and the first time they've been 0-2 in league play since the 2004/2005 season.
