MOORHEAD, Minn. – Sophomore guard Gavin Baumgartner scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team to an 81-74 win over Northern State in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for both teams on Saturday night in Moorhead, Minn.
 
MSUM improved to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC with its fifth straight win while Northern State fell to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the league. The Dragons are 5-0 during their season-long seven game homestand.
 
Baumgartner finished 8-of-13 from the field, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the foul line.
 
Sophomore guard Bryce Irsfeld had 19 points and four assists – going 10-of-10 from the foul line – while senior guard Johnny Beeninga had 11 points off the bench.
 
MSUM shot 54 percent (27-of-50) from the field compared to 44.1 percent (30-of-68) for the Wolves. MSUM was 22-of-27 from the foul line, including 10-of-10 in the final minute.
 
In a game with 17 lead changes and 10 ties, MSUM held a 58-57 lead with 7:23 left but went on a 17-8 run over the next six-plus minutes to push the lead to 75-65. Irsfeld had eight points during that run while Baumgartner had four.
 
The Dragons went 10-of-10 from the foul line in the final minute to ice the win. The free throws allowed MSUM to build an 11-point lead which was the largest by either team for the night.
 
MSUM trailed by as many as seven in the first half but was within a point at 35-34 at halftime. Baumgartner had 13 of his points in the first half.
 
MSUM had a 38-27 edge in rebounds.  Freshman forward Dane Zimmer had nine points and six rebounds.
 
MSUM continues NSIC play on Friday vs. Minnesota Crookston.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons have now won five straight when opening the NSIC season at home. The streak began with a 71-67 win over Bemidji St. on Dec. 5, 2008.