SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- In a game that felt like a postseason match-up, the Dragon men's basketball team fell at the buzzer to Black Hills State to open the East-West Challenge in Sioux Falls. The 78-77 loss is MSUM's first of the 2022-23 season.
The first six minutes saw the Dragons get offense from some unlikely sources.
Dane Zimmer put in an early four points with freshman
Logan Kinsey scoring five points in the early going. Kinsey's baskets came off of two second chance opportunities. MSUM had four offensive rebounds in the first six minutes of the contest. This gave the Dragons an early 14-11 advantage over the Yellow Jackets. Back-to-back threes from Kinsey and
Lorenzo McGhee pushed the Dragon lead to five with 12 minutes remaining in the half.
Black Hills State picked up the pace midway through the half to take a 21-20 lead thanks to eight early points from Joel Scott. Both the Dragons and the Yellow Jackets traded baskets down the stretch in the first half with McGhee scoring six consecutive points to know the score at 31 apiece. The Yellow Jackets were paced by Adam Moussa, who scored 14 points in the first 20 minutes. Black Hills State would carry a 37-35 lead into the locker room with McGhee leading the Dragons with 11 points.
MSUM outrebounded Black Hills State 24-17 in the first half, but shot just 38.9 percent from the field. Six Dragon offensive rebounds led to nine second chance points in the half. The Yellow Jacket shot nearly 44 percent in the half with Moussa and Scott accounting for 24 of their 37 points.
Both teams battled back and forth to open the second half. Joel Scott commanded the offense for Black Hills State while
Gavin Baumgartner put in four important points early in the half. Down four with 12 minutes remaining,
Jacob Beeninga nailed a three and
Dane Zimmer converted on an and-one to tie the score at 55. At that point, the two teams had been tied six different times.
By the final media timeout, MSUM held a 67-66 lead over the Yellow Jackets. The lead came thanks to McGhee and a smooth turnaround jumper from
Logan Kinsey. Once again, Joel Scott took charge for Black Hills State as he pushed the Yellow Jackets in front by four with three minutes remaining. Scott's 31 points were a game-high.
A huge dunk and foul for
Gavin Baumgartner brought the Dragons right back within one point. Two massive plays by
Dane Zimmer turned the score in MSUM's favor. Zimmer swatted a Joel Scott shot on one end and collected a huge offensive rebound on the other. That rebound led to a pair for free throw makes from Baumgartner. The Dragons led 75-74 with 48 seconds remaining. After hitting a pair of free throws, the Yellow Jackets climbed back in front 76-75.
As
Dane Zimmer converted a lay-up to give the Dragons the lead with 12 seconds remaining, Adam Moussa hit a turnaround jumper as time expired. Black Hills State won 78-77 as Moussa finished with 22 points.
Top Dragons
The Dragons close out the East-West Challenge tomorrow afternoon against South Dakota Mines. Tip-off from the Sanford Pentagon is scheduled for 1 p.m.
