TOPEKA, Kan. – MSU Moorhead overcame a physical Fort Hays State team in an NCAA Central Region Quarterfinal on Saturday.
Jacob Jennissen logged 22 points and 21 rebounds to lead the Dragons to a 69-62 win.
The physical tone of the game would be set in the opening moments as both teams jostled for position on the scoreboard. Fort Hays State would take a small two-point lead before
Logan Kinsey and
JaMir Price scored to give MSUM a 12-10 lead. The Dragons would lead 17-15 after five straight points from
Carson Johnson.
With just under six minutes to play in the first half, Kinsey would convert on a pair of free throws to have the Dragons in front by one point. The Tigers would command the final stages of the first half, building a lead as large as five points with one minute to play in the half. Luckily for the Dragons, a late tip-in from
Will Kinsey gave the Dragons some momentum heading into the locker room. Fort Hays State would lead 34-31 at the break after shooting 52 percent from the field.
Jennissen would lead the Dragons in the first half, collecting a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Kinsey added in nine points for the Dragons, who shot 40.7 percent from the floor in the half. A stout Tiger defense held the Dragons to just one of six shooting from long range in the half.
Although Kinsey connected on a triple early in the second half, the Tigers would get hot from long range. Fort Hays State built their lead out to eight points with 13 minutes to go in the game. From there, MSUM would work the ball down low to Jennissen, who scored on three straight possessions to get the Dragons within four points.
Will Kinsey would sink three free throws, followed by a jam from Jennissen, to bring MSUM back within a point with just over eight minutes to play. Kinsey later scored again to give the Dragons a lead once more, 51-50. A pull-up jumper from
Jacob Beeninga stretched the Dragon lead to three points with seven minutes to go.
In the game's most crucial moments, MSUM was sharp, as Johnson connected on some tough baskets to have the Dragons up six points. A pair of foul shots from Beeninga would give MSUM its largest lead of the game in eight points with 31 seconds left in the game. While Fort Hays State would make the final seconds interesting, the Dragons would shut the game down at the foul line. MSUM claimed the victory, 69-62.
Jennissen was completely dominant all afternoon, scoring 22 points with 21 rebounds, just four off the single-game record held by Jerry Barney (1971). Kinsey added in 16 points while brother Will chipped in nine huge points for MSUM.
Top Dragons
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
Jacob Jennissen's 21 rebounds were the most by a Dragon since Alex Novak ripped down 21 in a 95-87 win at Winona St. Jan. 15, 2011.
Up Next
The Dragons (24-8) take on third-seeded Winona State tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the NCAA Central Region Semifinals.
