Crookston, Minn. -- Minnesota Crookston men's basketball fought MSU Moorhead for a full 40 minutes, but tough shot-making in the second half was the difference in a 92-81 win for the Dragons on Saturday afternoon in NSIC play.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-12 on the season.
Donez Lindsey (Fr., G, Stockton, Calif.) would get the Golden Eagles off to a good start as he would bank in a three from the right wing for a 3-0 lead.
MSUM would take a 13-5 lead, but Kazadi Mukoma, Jr., (Jr., F, Grand Island, Neb.) would make a three to cut the lead to just five. Mukoma, Jr., would finish with 18 first half points.
Another Mukoma, Jr., jumper would put the Golden Eagles within one, but what would turn out to be a theme in the game, MSUM would answer right back and take a 22-16 lead after five straight.
MSUM would extend their lead to eight at 33-25, but it would be the Golden Eagles time to answer, as they would score eight straight and tie the game following a Hunter Lorenson (So., G, Lake City, Minn.) layup and GD Deng (Sr., G, Des Moines, Iowa) free throw.
MSUM would lead by eight heading into halftime.
Out of the halftime break, Alijah Washington (R-Jr., G, San Jose, Calif.) would get the Golden Eagles off on the right foot with a layup.
The Dragons would answer and take a 51-40 lead, but Minnesota Crookston would answer with seven in a row to cut the lead to just four.
Later in the game, Minnesota Crookston would trail by just 10 at 76-66, but a three by Mukoma, Jr., and a layup by Brayden Carlson (So., C, Woodbury, Minn.) would cut the lead to five at 76-71.
For every punch the Golden Eagles had, there would be an answer by the Dragons in the 92-81 win.
Mukoma, Jr., finished with 24 points and five rebounds, while Washington added 14 and Lindsey poured in 13. Spencer Swenson (Fr., F, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) finished with 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Carlson had his best game of the year, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds, seven of those offensively.
Minnesota Crookston will play their final non-conference game of the season on Monday, when they host Minnesota Morris for a 6 PM tip.
