JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Minnesota State Moorhead men's basketball found themselves in a heavyweight slugfest against Jamestown on Thursday evening. In a game that featured 17 lead changes, late haymakers from
Isa El-Amin and
Sam Hondl lifted the Dragons over the Jimmies, 76-74.
A back and forth first half would commence from the opening whistle. Jamestown would quickly establish a seven-point lead, but back-to-back triples from
Eddie Beeninga and
Dominic Gooden would get the Dragons right back in stride. Gooden would hit again from deep, followed by a
Rodrick Payne basket and Moorhead led 16-12 nearing the midway point of the half.
MSUM's lead would be as large as eight points after a dunk from Payne and a make from
Tysen Gerads. The Jimmies would climb back into the game not long after, regaining a 28-27 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. Both teams would trade blows from there with
Isa El-Amin leading the charge for Moorhead. El-Amin would put the Dragons back up by one point with under 60 seconds left in the half. After a late three from Gerads, Moorhead led 41-37 at the break.
El-Amin led the Dragons with 10 points while Gooden scored nine. MSUM shot an effective 56.7 percent from the floor in the first half. Moorhead also drilled five three-pointers in 10 attempts. The teams exchanged the lead 13 times through 20 minutes.
It was the senior Beeninga who sparked the Dragons in the second half. The Maple Grove, Minn., product drained a pair of threes in the first four minutes of action as MSUM outscored the Jimmies 11-5. The early offense helped the Dragons build a 10-point lead, 52-42. With just under 12 minutes to play, Jamestown had come back within one basket with MSUM still leading 54-52.
The Dragon lead would continue to sit at two points as the half reached its midway point. Jamestown would tie the game at 56 points before
Sam Hastreiter converted on an and-one to push MSUM back in front by three with just over seven minutes to play. Hastreiter would see another successful hoop and harm not even a minute later to keep the Dragons in front.
After Jamestown regained a one-point lead it was the freshman El-Amin who stepped in for the Dragons. El-Amin would drop in a triple on the ensuing possession to give the Dragons another two-point lead. The freshman would make another massive play a few possessions later, stealing a pass and pulling up for a heat check triple. El-Amin's shot found all net, bringing Moorhead a four-point lead. With the Jimmies tying the game at 70 points, El-Amin would enter unconscious territory, drilling a step back triple to make the count 73-70. Jamestown would respond by scoring four straight to take a one-point lead with 25 seconds remaining.
Out of a critical timeout, it was Gooden who got to the rim but missed a lay-in to take the lead. However, the ensuing rebound turned into a scramble for both teams with freshman
Sam Hondl coming away with the basketball. With time now under four seconds, Hondl put up a short turnaround jumper that found all net while also being fouled. Hondl's shot silenced the Jamestown crowd with the free throw providing Moorhead a two-point cushion. The Jimmies would have a solid look to win the game on their final possession, but the attempt veered off course. Moorhead captured the 76-74 divisional win thanks to Hondl's basket and 24 massive point from El-Amin.
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