Box Score MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State University controlled play for the majority of Saturday's contest as they upended University of Minnesota Crookston 79-53. The Golden Eagles led early and hung with the Mustangs in the second half but a 15-minute scoring outburst during the first half ignited SMSU as they defeated the Golden Eagles. UMC falls to 4-16 (1-15 NSIC) as they lost their 14th straight. The Mustangs improve to 14-8 (11-5 NSIC) with Saturday's win.

Saturday was Hawai'ian Night at the R/A Facility in Marshall, Minn., as 2,912 fans packed the stands.

The Golden Eagles were led by an impressive night for Derrick Redd (So., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management), who finished with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including going 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. Giorgi Koguashvili (Jr., G, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia/Agricultural Business) added 10 points on 3-of-6 for Minnesota Crookston.

UMC was 15-of-50 for 30 percent from the field and 7-of-16 for 43.8 percent from three.

The Mustangs controlled the glass on the game, out-rebounding UMC 39-23.

Southwest Minnesota State was led by a near double-double of 18 points and nine rebounds from Nick Smith.  Shaun Condon added 20 points and six rebounds. Condon was 7-of-12 from the field, while Smith was 9-of-12 from the field. Vinard Birch added 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting while Mitch Weg chipped in 10 points.

SMSU was 34-of-58 for 58.6 percent from the field and 2-of-11 for 18.2 percent from three-point range.

Minnesota Crookston came out and went toe-to-toe with the Mustangs in the early going of Saturday's game. Minnesota Crookston would lead 11-6 as Redd drained a three at the 14:36 mark of the first half.

From there though, the Golden Eagles would struggle to get offense. Southwest Minnesota State would out-score Minnesota Crookston 38-11 in the final 15 minutes of the half to go into the break ahead 46-22 on Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles struggled overall from the field going 7-of-24 for 29.2 percent in the first half. However, Minnesota Crookston was on fire from three-point range as 5-of-7 baskets came from distance as they went 5-of-6 for 83.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Minnesota Crookston was led in the half by 15 points from Redd, who accounted for almost all of the team's offense. Redd was 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

SMSU had a balanced scoring effort in the first half. Smith led the way with 10 points, while Birch added nine, as did Condon. The Mustangs were 19-of-32 from the field for 59.4 percent and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc for 25 percent.

In addition, the Mustangs controlled the glass out-rebounding the Golden Eagles 22-9. UMC's top rebounder Tyler West, Jr. (Jr., F, Portland, Ore./Communications) had no rebounds in the opening half.

The Golden Eagles would trade baskets with the Mustangs in the first seven minutes of the second half as both team's scored 12 points, but SMSU would still hold a 58-34 lead over the Golden Eagles due to their first half onslaught. However, Minnesota Crookston couldn't make a dent in the Southwest Minnesota State lead as the Mustangs hung on for a 79-53 win, despite SMSU only out-scoring the Golden Eagles 33-31 in the second half.

The Golden Eagles will return home to face University of Mary and Minot State University next weekend at Lysaker Gymnasium.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).