MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Fifth-ranked MSU Moorhead endured a harsh shooting night, but were able to utilize defense and gritty efforts from
Ja'Kair Sanchez and
Logan Kinsey to defeat Minnesota Duluth 62-58 in a Friday night fracas inside Nemzek Fieldhouse.
Neither team would shoot the ball well throughout the course of the game. MSUM would hold a 21-12 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half as the Dragons held Minnesota Duluth to six of 18 shooting including a zero for five mark from long range. The Dragons were not successful on the other end as well, as they would only connect on eight of 25 from the floor in the same stretch. This included a two of 10 clip from three-point range. Never the less,
Ja'Kair Sanchez would pace the Dragons in his first game as a starter. Sanchez put in seven points in the first half as
Jacob Beeninga would add five points with MSUM leading 25-16 at the break.
Minnesota Duluth would barely shoot over 30 percent in the first frame (30.8 percent) while the Dragons would struggle as well, marking a 28.1 percent clip. MSUM would make just two of 14 three-point attempts in first 20 minutes, but would retain the lead for all but 16 seconds in the half.
Both teams would come out of the halftime locker room with a sense of aggression and drive that continues to make these matchups so special. Despite trailing for most of the first half, the Bulldogs would continue to battle and would regain control of the game's momentum at the midway point of the frame. The Bulldogs would take advantage of the dismal Dragon shooting and would connect on enough baskets to pull the score to within a possession.
By the five-minute mark of the second half, Minnesota Duluth would command a six-point lead as Nemzek Fieldhouse was hushed outside of the Bulldog fans in attendance. MSUM head coach
Tim Bergstraser opted to take a needed timeout with five minutes remaining in an attempt to refocus his team. The Dragons would force a Bulldogs turnover which resulted in a
Logan Kinsey and-one with just under four minutes left in the game. Kinsey connected on the extra free throw to cut the deficit in half (54-51). Sanchez would follow with a lay-in to bring MSUM to within one point.
With just over three minutes remaining, Kinsey would find himself at the line again with an opportunity to give MSUM the lead again. The sensational sophomore sank both charity stripe shots to put the Dragons back up 55-54. Kinsey would connect on another pair of free throws a few possessions later to lead 57-54. Minnesota Duluth would bring it to within one point with just over 90 seconds remaining. Following that,
Jamir Price would drive through the lane and toss up a lob to Kinsey who grabbed the ball and slammed it home with authority. The dunk would erupt the Nemzek Fieldhouse crowd with just over a minute left.
The Bulldogs would once again bring the count to within one point as Sanchez would make it a two-point game (60-58) with 17 seconds left on the clock. Needing one final stop to put away Minnesota Duluth, it was Kinsey who made the game-saving play. The sophomore slapped the ball away from a driving Charlie Katona and came up with the ball for his sixth steal of the game. Kinsey would net his eighth and ninth free throws to put the game away.
MSUM would survive 62-58 despite shooting 33.3 percent for the game including a three of 23 clip (13 percent) from long range. However, MSUM would make 21 of 24 free throw attempts in the win. Kinsey made all nine of his free throw attempts as the sophomore has made 32 consecutive free throws dating back to the November 26 win over Michigan Tech.
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
The Dragons haven't lost at least two straight after a winning streak of at least nine since the 1977-78 team that fell in consecutive games to North Dakota State and St. Cloud State following a nine-game streak.
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Up Next
MSUM (16-1, 10-1 NSIC) returns to the court inside Nemzek Fieldhouse for a 5:30 p.m. tilt with Concordia, St. Paul.
