WAYNE, Neb. – Second-ranked MSU Moorhead men's basketball would shoot 55.2 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes as the Dragons played a clean 40 minutes in an 80-68 victory over Wayne State College.
The road win on Saturday is MSUM's 13th consecutive victory over the Wildcats dating back to February 15, 2014. The Dragons have not lost at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, America, since February 26, 2011.
How The Game Was Won
- The two teams enjoyed a hotly contested first 10 minutes with five lead changes. MSUM shot 40 percent from the floor in the early going to lead 18-15 midway through the first half.
- Logan Kinsey led the Dragons with seven points early. MSUM would also hit five of five free throws in that same time span.
- Jacob Beeninga was able to stretch the Dragon lead to six points late in the half thanks to a five-point flurry.
- Wayne State would hold the Dragons scoreless for the final two minutes of play in the half, utilizing a 5-0 run to tie the score at 33 points at the break.
- The two teams shot an identical field goal percentage through 20 minutes (41.4 percent) with the Dragons struggling from long range, making just two of 10 attempts.
- Kinsey led MSUM with nine points, making five of five free throw attempts in the frame.
- MSUM would take a 42-35 lead behind a 7-0 run out of the halftime locker room with baskets from Beeninga, Kinsey and Gabe Myren.
- Myren would help keep the Dragons in front by seven midway through the final 20 minutes, scoring six consecutive points.
- Leading by eight points with just over eight minutes remaining, Ja'Kair Sanchez earned a momentum-shifting and-one to put MSUM up 59-48.
- Sanchez would score 14 points on five of 10 shooting in the game to lead the Dragon bench crusade.
- With three minutes remaining, MSUM would hold its largest lead of the game, 71-56, following a Beeninga lay-in.
- The junior finished with a team-high 22 points to go along with three assists and a pair of steals.
- MSUM would connect on 55.2 percent of their field goal attempts in the second half, finishing with a 80-68 victory.
- Gabe Myren scored 19 points on a blazing 70 percent shooting clip in the game.
- Dane Zimmer had a patented Dane Zimmer game, scoring two points, but hauling in 12 rebounds and blocking three shots.
- The Dragons would win the turnover battle by a plus-six margin as MSUM would only turn the ball over four times all game.
Top Dragons
Up Next
The Dragons (14-0, 8-0 NSIC) return home for a pair of contests next weekend against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. Action begins on Friday with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against the Mustangs.
