CROOKSTON, Minn. – University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball senior Harrison Cleary (G, Oak Creek, Wis.) became the all-time scoring leader in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) history, as the Golden Eagles fell 77-63 to Southwest Minnesota State University.

The Mustangs out-scored Minnesota Crookston 43-24 in the second half to earn the win. Minnesota Crookston held the 39-34 advantage at the half, but Southwest Minnesota State opened the second stanza on a 23-3 run and they did not look back as they earned the win Fri., Jan. 31 at Lysaker Gymnasium.

The Golden Eagles fall to 9-12 (5-10 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Minnesota Crookston remains in a three-way tie for fifth place in the NSIC North with University of Mary and Bemidji State University. Southwest Minnesota State moves to 7-14 (4-11 NSIC) with the victory. The Mustangs have won the last nine games in the series.

Cleary set the record in the final minute of the game as he got in the lane for the lay-in and was fouled where he looked to break the record at a place where he has made a living, making 164-of-178 free throws this season. Cleary sank the free throw to etch his name into NSIC history, surpassing St. Cloud State University great Gage Davis, who he competed against for the first three years of his career. Cleary sits at 1,933 career points in NSIC play. He needs 104 points to surpass Will Vorhees of Notre Dame College (Ohio) as NCAA Division II's highest scorer since 1992. He currently has 2,658 overall points while competing for the Golden Eagles.

Cleary led the team with 29 points on 9-of-21 from the field. He was 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 7-of-7 from the foul line. Ibu Jassey-Demba (Jr., F, Birmingham, England) added nine points, while Malcolm Cohen (R-Sr., G/F, Detroit, Mich.) had eight points and seven boards. Brian Sitzmann (R-So., G/F, Savage, Minn.) chipped in eight points, as well.

The Golden Eagles were 22-of-53 from the field for 41.5 percent. Minnesota Crookston had a strong night from beyond the arc, going 10-of-20 for 50.0 percent. The Golden Eagles were 9-of-13 from the foul line for 69.2 percent.

Minnesota Crookston struggled to maintain control of the ball, as they had 19 turnovers on the day. The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded on the night 31-26.

Southwest Minnesota State was guided by the play of Kenny Byers with 33 points on 11-of-19 from the field, and 10-of-14 from the foul line. Nick Dufault chipped in 10 points, while Jake Phipps came off the bench for 10 points. Andy Stafford chipped in five points and six rebounds.

Southwest Minnesota State was strong defensively, making Cleary work to get the ball and making it tough for the Golden Eagles to score on Friday.

The Mustangs shot 29-of-50 from the field for 58.0 percent. Southwest Minnesota State went 5-of-9 from behind the three-point line for 55.6 percent. The Mustangs were 14-of-18 from the charity stripe for 77.8 percent.
The Golden Eagles took an early 9-4 lead in the game as Cohen completed an old-fashioned three-point play. Jassey-Demba then sank a three off an assist from Cohen to push the lead out to 12-4 with 16:34 left in the first half.

The Mustangs countered with a 4-0 run as a Byers basket trimmed the deficit to 12-8. Southwest Minnesota State continued to slice into the lead as a Byers bucket with 13:01 left in the half cut the deficit to 15-14. A Cleary trey proved to be the response for Minnesota Crookston as they pushed the lead out to 18-14.

The Mustangs were able to take over the lead later in the half as a Weston Baker Magrath bucket gave Southwest Minnesota State an 11-7 run to give them a 25-22 advantage. The Golden Eagles knotted up the tilt 27-27 on a Cohen hoop with 6:18 left in the tilt.

The Mustangs were able to take the lead back 33-29 after a basket from Phipps. Minnesota Crookston came back and tied up the game as Cohen put down a thunderous dunk in transition off of the steal. A Cleary triple put Minnesota Crookston back on top 36-33 with 1:28 remaining in the half. A Cleary trey late in the half gave the Golden Eagles a 39-34 going into the half.

Southwest Minnesota State came out quick in the second half as they were able to use a 23-3 run propelled by 13 points from Byers. The run for the Mustangs gave Southwest Minnesota State a 57-43 lead. Minnesota Crookston stopped the run and were able to cut the deficit to 60-48 after a Sitzmann jumper with 9:17 left in the game.

The Mustangs halted the comeback attempt for the Golden Eagles as Dufault hit a trey and Byers converted a jumper to widen the gap to 65-48 with 6:33 remaining in the game. Southwest Minnesota State were able to push the game out to a game-high 19-point lead after a Phipps basket.

Cleary was able to accomplish an old-fashioned three-point play to set the NSIC scoring record, as he brought Minnesota Crookston with 15 with under a minute remaining. A Quintin Winterfeldt (Fr., G, Waupun, Wis.) three-pointer would trim the deficit to 14, but it wouldn't be enough as the Mustangs won 77-63.

The Golden Eagles will look to rebound in the win column as they take on University of Sioux Falls Sat., Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m., at Lysaker Gymnasium.