The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle men’s basketball team’s offense was shut down on Saturday night as the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs cruised to a 90-46 victory in a NSIC matchup in Marshall, Minnesota.
FIRST HALF –
Southwest jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game. UMC’s Donez Lindsey (Fresh. Stockton, CA) made a three-pointer, and after a Mustang basket, Alijah Washington (Jr. San Jose, CA) made a three-pointer. After another Mustang basket, Spencer Swenson (Fresh. Sauk Rapids) made a jump shot to bring UMC within an 11-10 deficit. Southwest took control of the game with good shooting and outstanding defense and went on a 16-3 run to take a 27-13 lead with six minutes to go in the half. Southwest finished the half by outscoring the Golden Eagles 10-7 to take a 37-20 lead at halftime.
Southwest’s Aeron Stevens scored 21 points to outscore the UMC team 21-20 at the half.
SECOND HALF –
Southwest put any thoughts of a UMC comeback to bed in the first minutes of the second half as they started on an 8-0 with five free throws and one three-pointer for a 43-20 lead. UMC’s first points came on a Washington basket. The teams exchanged baskets for several minutes until Southwest went on an 18-0 run for a 67-27 lead with 10:14 left in the game.
UMC’s Swenson stopped the run with a basket, and after a Mustang three-pointer, the Golden Eagles’ Brady Westphal (Fresh. West Fargo, ND) made a three-pointer, and Swenson followed with a layup to get within a 70-34 deficit. Several minutes later, UMC’s Caiden Swenby (Soph. Fertile) made a three-pointer to get within a 79-41 before Southwest went on an 11-0 run for a 90-41 lead with 1:25 to go. UMC’s Owen Chervestad (Fresh. Oklee) made a basket on an assist from Swenby, and Westphal added his second three-pointer of the game, and that is how the game would end with Southwest winning 90-46.
UMC drops to 2-12 in the NSIC and 4-16 overall and will host Minnesota State Mankato on Friday. Southwest Minnesota State improves to 12-2 in the NSIC and 14-5 overall, remaining tied with St. Cloud State for first place in the NSIC.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Crookston | 20 | 26 | 46 |
| Sioux Falls | 37 | 53 | 90 |
| For UMC | Points | Rebounds | Other |
| Donez Lindsey | 11 | 4 | 3 assists/2 steals |
| Alijah Washington | 10 | 3 | 2 steals |
| Spencer Swenson | 8 | 7 | 1 steal/1 block |
| Brady Westphal | 6 | 1 | |
| Kazadi Mukoma Jr. | 4 | 4 | |
| Caiden Swenby | 3 | 1 assist | |
| JD Roberts | 2 | 5 | 3 assists/2 blocks |
| Owen Chervestad | 2 | 2 assists |
