MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State Moorhead men's basketball had to grind out a victory in Thursday night NSIC action. The Dragons topped the Mary Marauders, 75-69.
With the squads trading punches in the game's early moments, it was the Dragons who made the first explosive run.
Landin Hacker would snap the net on a three-pointer before
Tysen Gerads converted on an and-one. Hacker would connect on another triple a possession later to cap a 9-0 Moorhead run, putting MSUM in front 18-8.
Sam Hastreiter would connect from deep with just over seven minutes to play in the first half with Moorhead leading by eight points, 24-16. The Marauders would close that gap as the half dwindled, but MSUM would lead 31-30 at the break thanks to eight points from Gerads.
The Dragons would use their post presence to build a five-point lead early in the second half as
Adam Jenkins and
Kabine Kaba scored down low. UMary would keep themselves in the contest with timely makes from long range, including a triple to give the Marauders a 42-40 lead with just under 15 minutes to play. As the teams would trade baskets again, a timely triple from
Isa El-Amin would put the Dragons back in front by three points, 51-48. The three kicked off an 8-0 individual run from the frosh with Moorhead leading 56-48 at the midway point of the half.
UMary would continue to battle back, cutting the Dragon lead to two points with just over five minutes to play. An and-one from
Rodrick Payne would push Moorhead back out in front by five points not long after. The Marauders would be within four points with just over three minutes left before a triple from
Eddie Beeninga gave the Dragons more breathing room. Trailing by six with under a minute to go, UMary would bring the score back within a possession (70-69) with 43 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing Dragon possession it was the freshman El-Amin who yet again delivered a timely dagger. With the shot clock winding down, the Minnetonka, Minn., product hoisted a deep three that dropped home, putting MSUM back in front by four points with 12 seconds remaining. The Marauders would be unable to cut into that deficit as the Dragons secured a 75-69 victory. El-Amin led all scorers with 18 points while Gerads scored 13 points.
Top Dragons
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
The Dragons have now won 10 of their last 12 meetings against the Marauders.
Up Next
MSUM (12-13, 9-10 NSIC) welcomes Minot State to Nemzek Fieldhouse on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
