MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team completed the home sweep with a 75-71 win over University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Saturday.
 
MSUM improves to 18-8 overall and 12-6 in the NSIC while USF falls to 15-9 overall and 10-8 in the NSIC.
 
Senior guard Travaun Coad led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Addison Park had 15 points to go along with five rebounds. The freshman duo of Gavin Baumgartner and Bryce Irsfeld contributed 14 points and 13 points, respectively. Irsfeld led the team with three steals and three assists.
 
MSUM shot 52.8 percent (28-of-53) from the field compared to 48.2 percent (27-of-56) for USF. The Cougars outrebounded the Dragons 36-26.
 
A layup from junior guard Johnny Beeninga got MSUM on the board as they went up 2-0 with 18:24 on the clock. USF would tie things up 4-4, but a run from MSUM brought their lead to 11-4 with 13:51 to go in the half. The Cougars would battle back to tighten things up as a free-throw from Park gave MSUM a 25-23 edge with just over five minutes to go. A three-pointer from senior Jake Johnson gave MSUM to 37-29 lead going into the break.
 
Baumgartner opened the second half with a three-pointer from give the Dragons a 40-29 lead. A free-throw from the Cougars cut the lead to four, but a layup from Park gave MSUM the 50-44 lead with 12:54 remaining. USF claimed their first lead of the half with 9:33 to go. Park nailed a three with 9:13 on the clock to give MSUM a 57-55 lead. The score remained tight down the stretch, but six hit free-throws (four from Irsfeld) gave the Dragons the separation they needed to earn a 75-71 win.
 
MSUM is back in Nemzek Fieldhouse next week as they face St. Cloud State on Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons have won their most recent game versus 11 of the 15 other NSIC. Only MSU Mankato, St. Cloud St., Augustana and the University of Mary have defeated the Dragons in their most recent meetings.