SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- In the closing game of the East-West Challenge in Sioux Falls, the Dragon men leveraged a strong second half en route to a 74-57 victory over South Dakota Mines.
The story of the first half to be the offensive performance of
Jacob Beeninga, who scored 14 points in the first 12 minutes of the contest. Not only that, Beeninga was efficient with his shots, starting five of seven from the field in the half. This included four three-pointers from the sophomore.
Both MSUM and South Dakota Mines traded punches early as the teams tied four separate times in the first 14 minutes. Back-to-back buckets from
Logan Kinsey pushed the Dragons in front 31-29. Beeninga would then make his fifth three of the half to help drive the Dragon lead to five points late in the half. The sophomore guard would score 20 points on seven of 10 shooting in the half. MSUM would carry a 41-36 lead into halftime. As a team, the Dragons shot an immaculate 51.7 percent from the field in the frame.
Jaden Stanley-Williams chipped in eight huge points in the half.
MSUM would go on to dominate the second half, outscoring the Hardrockers 33-21 in the half en route to a decisive 74-57 win. Beeninga scored a career-high 28 points including seven three-point field goals, two shy of the school record. Stanley-Williams and
Dane Zimmer each finished with 10 points as the Dragons shot 47.5 percent from the field for the game. Senior
Trever Kaiser added nine points for MSUM.
Top Dragons
MSUM plays again on Tuesday as they head to Aberdeen for a match-up with Northern State. The game will mark the opening of the NSIC schedule for the Dragons. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
