KANSAS CITY, Mo. – MSU Moorhead used a balanced attack and staved off a late Washburn run to win their second contest of the 2023-24 season. The Dragons beat the Ichabods 79-77.
 
MSUM would begin the game cold from the floor, making just two of their first eight field goal attempts. Adversely, Washburn would make three of four in the first five minutes to keep a slim 7-4 lead. The Dragons would force five Ichabod turnovers in that same stretch to remain contentious in the early stages. MSUM would surge out of a timeout to make four of their next four shots as part of a 7-0 burst. Ja'Kair Sanchez, Jacob Beeninga and Dane Zimmer all scored in the stretch with Zimmer netting his second triple of the young season. The senior only made five three-point field goals in 2022-23.
 
Washburn would race out to a lead as large as six points with the Dragon offense still struggling from the floor. Zimmer, Beeninga and Jamir Price would provide some needed scoring for the Dragons to bring them within two points with just over five minutes remaining in the half. The squads would trade free throws down the stretch before an and-one from Jacob Jennissen would give the Dragons their first lead in nearly 10 minutes. Jacob Beeninga was the catalyst on the play, dishing out the pass to the big man Jennissen. 
 
However, the Ichabods would connect on a pair of three-pointers in the final two minutes to remain in stride with MSUM. The teams went into the halftime locker room tied at 36 points. Beeninga led the Dragons with 10 points while Price and Zimmer added seven points each. MSUM shot just 37.1 percent from the field in the half, including a 20 percent mark from long distance. Washburn remained tied with the Dragons despite the Ichabods shooting 50 percent from the floor and making six of eight three-pointers in the frame. The key for MSUM was their defensive effort throughout the half. The Dragons forced 13 Washburn turnovers through 20 minutes including two steals from Beeninga and another from Gabe Myren. 
 
The second half would begin with the Dragons on a 5-0 run thanks to a basket from Logan Kinsey and another three from Zimmer. MSUM would extend their lead to six points nearing the midway point of the half as Jamir Price knocked in a three. The 54-48 lead came thanks to some Dragon aggressiveness, which forced five fouls in the span. The Dragons connected on 75 percent of their free throw attempts in the stretch, helping them create some distance from Washburn.
 
MSUM's lead would get as large as nine points before Washburn was able to trim the deficit to two points with just over seven minutes to play. The teams would trade baskets from there as Logan Kinsey and Beeninga would add buckets for MSU Moorhead. Beeninga would notch a needed three with just over six minutes to play to push the lead back to five. That shot would be a part of seven consecutive points scored by the guard. Kinsey would strike again on a putback off a missed three to give MSUM a 69-61 advantage with under five minutes to play. 
 
From there, the lead would stretch to 10 points (73-63) following baskets from Kinsey and Jacob Jennissen. The Ichabods would continue to hang around throughout, though, cutting that lead to three with just over a minute remaining. Washburn had the Dragon lead down to just two points with 29 seconds remaining with the Ichabods opting to foul with 13 seconds left. 

While free throw shooting was an issue for MSUM all day (shooting 66.7 percent on 33 attempts), they would give themselves a four-point lead with 13 seconds left on a make from Zimmer. Washburn would hit a three right after to put the score at 78-77. Kinsey would split a pair of free throws with less than 10 seconds remaining, but would foul an Ichabod player, putting them at the line for a pair. Trailing by two with .03 remaining, Washburn missed both free throws as the Dragons would grab the winning rebound. 
 
 Top Dragons

• Jacob Beeninga: 20 points, four assists, four steals
• Dane Zimmer: 17 points, 13 rebounds
• Logan Kinsey: 13 points, five rebounds
• Jamir Price: 13 points, three rebounds

Stat Of The Day

With his 17 points this afternoon, Dane Zimmer now sits at 998 points for his Dragon career.
 
Up Next
 
The Dragons (2-0) will travel again next weekend as part of the annual East-West Challenge. MSUM will meet up with both South Dakota Mines and 17^th-ranked Black Hills State on Friday and Saturday in Rapid City, S.D.