MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team extended their winning streak to seven games after defeating Wayne State by a score of 80-76 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Friday night.
MSUM improves to 14-5 overall and 8-3 in the NSIC while Wayne State falls to 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the NSIC.
The Dragons were led by senior guard
Travaun Coad who posted 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Senior forward
Addison Park and freshman guard
Bryce Irsfeld followed with 11 points each. Junior guard
Johnny Beeninga had nine points and three assists on the night.
MSUM shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60) from the field and 87.5 percent (21-of-24) from the free throw line. WSC shot 50.0 percent (30-of-60) from the field and outrebounded the Dragons 36-31.
The first half featured back-and-forth action and went up 22-17 with 8:11 off a three from freshman guard
Gavin Baumgartner. The Dragons continued to maintain the lead and went up 29-24 with 5:37 on the clock off a layup from freshman center
Jesse Bergh. The Wildcats went on a 9-2 run in the final minutes of the half to carry a 38-35 lead into halftime.
Wayne State got out to a hot start in the second half and saw their largest lead of the night at 44-33 just three minutes into the half. MSUM saw a six-point run to tie the score at 51-51 with 12:49 on the clock. Coad had four points in the run. The Wildcats reclaimed the lead, but two free-throws from senior guard
Jake Johnson gave MSUM a 61-59 with 7:50 remaining. WSC fought back for a lead, but a three-pointer from Irsfeld brought the Dragons up 68-66 with six minutes left. Two free-throws late from Irsfeld gave the Dragons the 80-76 lead with :12 on the clock and that would do it as the clock ran out.
The Dragons are back in Nemzek Fieldhouse tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. to take on Augustana University (S.D.)
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight was the Dragons' eighth win in a row over Wayne St. which is the third-longest active winning streak. The Dragons have beaten Minnesota Morris 13 straight times and Mayville St. in 10 consecutive affairs.
