MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead men's basketball used a stirring defensive effort, along with star showings from
Jacob Jennissen and
Carson Johnson, to defeat (RV) Minnesota State on Saturday. The Dragons toppled the Mavericks, 81-55.
Inside The Game
- MSUM would race out to a 9-2 run after an opening slam dunk from Jacob Jennissen followed by a three from Logan Kinsey.
- While the Mavericks would come back to tie the score, Jennissen would continue to own the paint, leading the Dragon charge.
- Carson Johnson would drill two threes near the midway point of the first half to have MSUM up, 20-17.
- Johnson's second three sparked a 9-0 Dragon burst, which was capped by another lay-in from Jennissen.
- Another Dragon run near the seven-minute mark broke the game open, providing MSUM a 16-point lead.
- Johnson led the 10-0 run with five points as Jacob Beeninga capped the tempest with a three-pointer.
- At the break, MSUM led 42-27 after shooting 51.5 percent from the field.
- Minnesota State would come out of the locker room, hoping for a run, but the Dragons continued to stand strong.
- Defense, along with consistent offense from Johnson and Jennissen, would have the Dragons up 54-40 midway through the second half.
- The Mavericks would get as close as 11 points before the Dragons put their final stamp on the game with a 9-0 run.
- Jennissen would drill a corner triple to have the Dragons up 18 points with time ticking away.
- MSUM would win by 26 points after strong closing minutes from the Dragon bench, led by six points from Levi Birkholz.
Top Dragons
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
The Dragons will enter the NSIC tournament on an eight-game heater for the first time in their 24 trips to the conference post-season. They also have a 91-32 record when
Jacob Beeninga has appeared in a game which includes two NSIC tournament championship titles, four straight NCAA appearances with a pair of NCAA tournament wins.
Up Next
MSUM (20-8, 15-7 NSIC) has earned the number three seed in the NSIC Tournament and will receive a first-round bye. The Dragons will play either Minnesota Duluth or Augustana on Sunday, March 2 at 7 p.m.
