MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State University Moorhead closed the game on a 19-4 run to come from behind and claim an 81-78 win over University of Minnesota Crookston Fri., Dec. 8 at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn. The Golden Eagles led by a game-high 12 points with 6:12 remaining, but MSU Moorhead looked to 12 points from Tanner Kretchman in the final six minutes to claim the win.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 5-5 (2-2 NSIC) with Friday's loss. MSU Moorhead moved to 4-5 (2-1 NSIC) with the victory. The Dragons have claimed the last 11 games over the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston was looking for their first win in the series since Jan. 28, 2012. The Golden Eagles are still off to their best start since the 2010-11 season when Minnesota Crookston also started the season 5-5.

The Golden Eagles were led by 31 points from Harrison Cleary (So., G, Oak Creek, Wis.).He was 11-of-21 from the field, 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and 5-of-5 from the charity stripe. Cleary added five rebounds and three assists. Alan Hodge, Jr. (Jr., G, Dallas, Texas) added 21 points and six boards on 7-of-17 from the field and 5-of-8 from behind the three-point line.

Ben Juhl (Fr., G, Clive, Iowa) chipped in seven points, while Gable Smith (R-Jr., F, Lodi, Wis.) had six points and seven rebounds. Chase Knickerbocker (Jr., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) notched seven points and six rebounds.

The Golden Eagles shot 28-of-62 from the field for 45.2 percent. They were 11-of-22 for 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. Minnesota Crookston was 11-of-13 for 84.6 percent from the charity stripe.

MSU Moorhead looked to 24 points from Tanner Kretchman, including 22 in the second half. Kretchman was 8-of-16 from the field on the night. Johnny Beeninga added 21 points on 7-of-15 from the field. Matt Anderson finished with nine points and three boards, while Evan Hines had six points and seven boards.

The Dragons shot 31-of-60 from the field for 51.7 percent. MSU Moorhead was 6-of-15 for 40.0 percent from behind the three-point line and 13-of-19 for 68.4 percent from the foul line. MSU Moorhead won the rebounding edge by the tune of 37-31.

The Dragons jumped out to a 5-0 lead with a three-pointer from Evan Hines and a basket from Matt Anderson. The Golden Eagles pulled to within 7-5 as Hodge got five quick points for his squad. The Dragons used an 18-11 run from there to push their lead to 25-16 after a Beeninga basket with 9:45 remaining in the half.

Minnesota Crookston responded with a Juhl jumper and a Cleary triple to cut the deficit to four at 25-21 with 8:10 remaining. Minnesota Crookston continued their charge as they came within one at 27-26 following a Smith dunk. MSU Moorhead held off the Golden Eagles for the moment with a basket from A.J. Nywesh to push the lead to 29-26. Minnesota Crookston came back with a pair of free throws from Hodge to pull back within one at 29-28 with 6:26 remaining. The Dragons responded with baskets from Nywesh and Beeninga to lift their lead to 33-28. Minnesota Crookston stopped the quick 5-0 run with a Hodge trey to bring the Golden Eagles back within 33-31. Beeninga hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to move the lead to 34-31, but Cleary fired right back with a three to knot it up 34-34. A Nywesh triple pushed the advantage back out to 37-34. The Golden Eagles countered right back with a Juhl jumper and a Nicolau dunk off a beautiful find from Cleary to make it 38-37 Minnesota Crookston.

The Dragons took the lead back with a Nywesh put-back, but Cleary came right back with a bucket of his own to make it 40-39 with 1:20 remaining. Minnesota Crookston extended their lead to 43-39 as Hodge hit a clutch three-pointer. The Golden Eagles closed the half on a 6-0 run as Juhl hit 1-of-2 on the charity stripe. Minnesota Crookston went into the break with a 44-39 advantage.

The Golden Eagles shot 17-of-31 from the field in the first half for 54.8 percent. They were 6-of-9 from beyond the arc for 66.7 percent and 4-of-5 for 80.0 percent from the foul line. Minnesota Crookston looked to 18 first-half points from Cleary of 7-of-10 from the field. He was an unblemished 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Hodge added 13 points on 4-of-9 from the field, while Juhl added five.

MSU Moorhead went 18-of-32 from the field for 56.3 percent in the opening period. The Dragons were just 2-of-7 from beyond the arc for 28.6 percent. MSU Moorhead shot just 1-of-3 from the charity stripe for 33.3 percent. The Dragons looked to nine points from Beenings, while Nywesh came off the bench for nine. The Golden Eagles held Kretchman to just two points in the first half.

The Dragons held the rebounding edge at the half 16-13.

Minnesota Crookston opened the second half on a 9-4 run led by five points from Cleary to make it 53-43 in the early going. The Dragons used a 4-0 run with free throws from Beeninga and a basket from Anderson to cut the lead to 53-47. Knickerbocker staved off MSU Moorhead with a clutch trey to make it 56-47 with 14:46 remaining in the game. The Dragons got the lead down to 56-49 on a Kretchman bucket, but Knickerbocker again responded, this time with an unconventional four-point play. The four points pushed the advantage to 11 points with 13:03 left in Friday's game. Minnesota Crookston would be able to stave off MSU Moorhead's charges and move their lead to a game-high 12 points with 6:34 remaining following a Hodge triple.

MSU Moorhead countered with a 14-2 run to knot the game up 74-74 on a Kretchman jumper. He would lead the run for the Dragons with nine points during the run. Cleary stopped the run with a jumper to put the Golden Eagles ahead 76-74. However, the Dragons closed the game out on a 7-2 run to claim the 81-78 win over Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles return to action Sat., Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. against No. 16 Northern State University.