Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston held a two point lead at the half, but Southwest Minnesota State shot 58 percent from the field in the second half to vault the Mustangs to a 77-67 victory over the Golden Eagles in NSIC action.
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 5-13 (2-10 NSIC).
 
The Mustangs would score the games' first five points of the night, but Reid Grant (Jr., G, Johnston, Iowa) would end the brief run with a floater in the paint.
 
SMSU would extend their lead to 13-7 early in the first half, but the maroon and gold would go on a huge run.
 
The 14-0 run would be started by Blaize Sagna (Jr., G, London, England), who would score four straight points. Jordan Mitchell (R-Jr., F, Columbus, Ohio) would tie things up at 13 with a layup and Grant would connect on back-to-back threes to give the Golden Eagles a 19-13 advantage.
 
Sagna would bookend the run with a layup to give the Golden Eagles a 21-15 lead.
 
Grant would give the Golden Eagles their largest lead of the night at 26-19, cashing in on three free throws.
 
Minnesota Crookston would head into the halftime break with a 32-30 lead.
 
The second half would see three ties early on and it would be tied at 36, but the Mustangs would score four in a row to take a lead they would never relinquish.
 
Peter Fuchs, Jr., (R-Fr., G, Wausau, Wis.) would bury a pair of free throws to cut the SMSU lead to 51-47.
 
On the next defensive possession, Minnesota Crookston would do a great job on the possession, but Cliff Cofield would find himself all alone at the left wing and bury a three.
 
That would be the start of three straight makes from deep for the Mustangs to eventually extend their lead to 60-49.
 
The Golden Eagles would try and chip away, but it would be too little, too late, as the Golden Eagles would fall by 10.
 
Sagna led the way with 30 points, his fourth time at home that he has finished with more than 30 points at home. Grant added 15 points and six rebounds, while Mitchell, Fuchs, Jr., and Aguek Deng (r-Jr., F, Des Moines, iowa) each added six.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will be back in action next Friday night as they head to Duluth to take on the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth. Tip-off is set for 7:30 P.M.