MANKATO, Minn. – MSU Moorhead basketball used defense and timely scoring to help earn a victory in the NCAA Central Region quarterfinals against Pittsburg State. The Dragons defeated the Gorillas, 73-55.
 
It was the Gorillas who gained an 8-2 advantage in the early stages as MSUM struggled from the floor. The Dragons opened the game shooting just one of nine from the floor while Pittsburg State would drain a pair of threes in the same span. A gliding lay-up from JaMir Price was the lone field goal for MSUM, who missed their first four three-point attempts to begin the contest. 
 
A nifty up-and-under by Price followed by an and-one display from Logan Kinsey would bring the Dragons their first lead, 9-8. Kinsey slithered through the lane and hit an acrobatic sweeping hookshot while getting mugged. The sophomore would follow that up with a fastbreak slam to bring the Dragon contingent to their feet. Jacob Beeninga would swish home a three ball just before a media timeout to make the score 16-11 in favor of MSUM. 
 
Beeninga would cash another triple near the midway point of the first half to keep MSUM up 21-16. Price would then find a streaking Jacob Jennissen who finished with a thunderous two-handed slam to keep MSUM's energy high. Jennissen would score again on the ensuing Dragon possession to continue his flurry. The Sauk Centre, Minn., native scored eight points and blocked three Gorilla shots in eight minutes of work in the first half. MSUM led 27-23 with just under eight minutes to go in the frame.
 
Out of the media timeout, MSUM would go on a 7-0 burst headlined by a triple from Dane Zimmer to bring the Dragons a double-digit lead (34-23). It was the Dragon defense that really set the tone forcing five Gorilla turnovers through 15 minutes of play. MSUM also held a plus-four rebound advantage on a Pittsburg State team that is statistically one of the best in the nation. Kinsey would score his ninth point of the half with just under three minutes to play to keep MSUM clicking. With two minutes to go in the half, MSUM led 38-28. 
 
Before the half, MSUM would keep the lead at 10 points thanks to a basket from Ja'Kair Sanchez with under a minute to play. The Dragons led 41-31 at the break as five players scored six or more points for MSUM, led by Kinsey's nine. MSUM shot 48.5 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes. 
 
Neither team would score through the first two minutes of action in the second half before Zimmer earned a tip-in off a Kinsey miss. A few possessions later, MSUM would gain some needed fight and energy as Kinsey would dive on the floor for a loose ball, gain possession and call a timeout as he was falling out of bounds. The all-out effort erupted the Dragon bench as MSUM led 43-33 with just over 16 minutes to play. Nosy defense continued to help MSUM stay in front as they would nab three steals in four minutes of play in the half. 
 
Beeninga would nail a corner three with under 15 to play to help give MSUM its largest lead of the game to that point in 18 points (51-33). The Dragons held Pittsburg State to just one of six shooting to open the second half. By the midway point of the half, MSUM had held the Gorillas to just four points and a two of nine clip from the field. 

It comes as no surprise that the athletic Gorillas had plenty left in the tank as they would whittle down the Dragon lead to 11 points with nine minutes to go. Both teams would enter the bonus at that time. By the under eight-minute media timeout, Pitt State had trimmed the MSUM lead to 10 points (56-46). 
 
Out of the break, MSUM would once again turn up its defensive intensity, holding the Gorillas scoreless for nearly three minutes. Zimmer would turn in a hookshot while Sanchez would bury a needed three for MSUM to push the lead back to 15 points (64-49). With two minutes remaining, MSUM still held a 66-53 advantage. 
 
Kinsey would put the game on ice as Zimmer found him wide open on a press break with under two minutes left. The Blaine, Minn., product showcased his athleticism, cocking the ball behind his head and jamming it home with both hands. It fully affirmed a Dragon win as MSUM would take the game, 73-55.
 
The win is Tim Bergstraser's 50^th career win in 62 career games coached. Bergstraser becomes the fastest coach in MSU Moorhead history to reach 50 career wins. 
 
Top Dragons

• JaMir Price: 15 points, four rebounds, three steals
• Dane Zimmer: 15 points, five rebounds
• Logan Kinsey: 13 points, four rebounds, three steals
• Ja'Kair Sanchez: 10 points, 12 rebounds, two steals
• Jacob Beeninga: Nine points, five assists
• Jacob Jennissen: Eight points, four rebounds, three blocks

 
Up Next
 
MSUM (25-5) will now look to the regional semifinal against Minnesota State which is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday from the Taylor Center.