MINOT, N.D. – MSU Moorhead men's basketball used game-shifting defense and timely offense to secure a critical NSIC victory on Wednesday evening. The Dragons defeated 22nd-ranked Minot State, 85-73.
First Half
MSUM would jump in front by six points early in the first half as the Dragon freshmen took charge.
Shaun Wysocki and
Carson Johnson would have four points each, capped by a fastbreak slam by Wysocki. However, Minot State would respond, regaining the scoreboard, 13-10 five minutes into the contest. Wysocki would break a Dragon cold spell, eventually regaining the lead, 14-13.
Logan Kinsey would bury a trio of threes to keep the Dragons up two points midway through the half. Kinsey would continue his tear from deep, draining another triple to put MSUM up five points. Wysocki would score five straight shortly thereafter with the Dragons leading, 34-31. The freshman began the game shooting five of five from the field with a three-pointer.
At the break, Minot State led 39-38 after closing the half on an 8-1 run. Kinsey led the Dragons with 16 points but picked up two fouls and was forced to the bench late in the frame. Wysocki added 11 points for the Dragons. Credit to
Jacob Jennissen in the first half, holding Beaver star Caleb van de Griend to just five points on four field goal attempts.
Second Half
Carson Johnson would spark the Dragons in the second half, draining a three while being fouled. Johnson converted on the rare four-point play, which the freshman has somehow done twice this season. Kinsey would score again on the next MSUM possession to give the Dragons a 46-41 lead.
Johnson would cash home another three to keep MSUM up six points (51-45) with 15 minutes to play in the game. The Beavers would go on a run from there, regaining the lead by one point following a 7-0 spurt. A bucket from
Adam Jenkins followed by another three from Johnson had the Dragons up six points midway through the half.
Following a driving basket from
Sam Hastreiter, MSUM possessed its largest lead to that point, 65-57. As Minot State began to stir, Johnson delivered a lovely pass to a rolling Jennissen for a monster jam. The dunk put the score at 69-63 Dragons with just over five minutes remaining.
The Dragons would extend their lead to nine points after a three from Kinsey, his fifth of the contest. Minot State would rally again, cutting the MSUM lead to four points with four minutes to play. Johnson would rain down a needed three to have the Dragons up seven points. Consecutive defensive stops helped pull the Dragons closer to victory as MSUM led 81-71 with a minute to play.
A late, crafty steal from Wysocki would put the game on ice for the Dragons, who used airtight defense in the contest's most crucial moments. MSUM won 85-73 with Kinsey scoring 27 points, followed closely by Johnson with 25. Johnson scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half.
Wysocki and Jennissen were superb on both ends of the floor as Wysocki scored 15 points with two blocks and two steals. Jennissen limited van de Griend to 11 points on five of nine shooting and five fouls. The junior had nine rebounds in the Dragon victory.
Top Dragons
Up Next
The Dragons (15-8, 10-7 NSIC) return home for a Saturday matchup with UMary which tips off at 3:30 p.m.
