SIOUX FALLS – Despite 26 points from Charles Ward and 21 from Freddie Young,The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (7-10, 4-7 NSIC South) dropped a 81-65 decision to #12 Minnesota State-Moorhead (19-1, 10-1 NSIC North) at the Stewart Center before 755 in attendance at the Stewart Center on Friday night.
In the North-South league battle, the final score was not indicative of the the game, which was close until the Dragons had a 14-0 run after the Cougars led, 52-48, with 10:46 to play. With a 62-52 lead with 7:30 left, MSUM converted at the foul line and from three-point range to close out the Cougars for their seventh straight win. The Cougars lost for a third straight game.
“We battle hard most of the night but let it get away from us in the second half,” said USF head men's basketball coach Chris Johnson. “We needed to find a way to answer their run but couldn't get it done. We just have to rebound tomorrow,” he said.
While the Cougars hit just 23-of-60 from the field for 38.3 percent, they had it going from three-point range with a season-high 12 three-pointers on 23 attempts for 52.2 percent. USF, which won the rebound battle, 39-29, had four blocks and 13 assists on the night.
For the fifth time in seven games, Ward surpassed 20 points as he reached that level for the 13th time in his career. He also recorded double digit in points for the 22nd straight game and the 33rd time as a Cougar. Ward had a career high with six three-pointers on nine attempts. He also had four rebounds and an assist. Young, who hit 4-of-7 from three-point range, tied a career best 21 points while dishing out five assists and grabbing four rebounds. Junior forward Jordan Stotts had a team-high 11 rebounds.
MSUM, which came into the game as the league's best shooting team, continued to find success in that part of their game. They hit 27-of-54 field goals for 50 percent, including 10-of-16 from three-point range for 62.5 percent. In addition, they converted on 17-of-22 free throws for 77.3 percent.
Leading the way for the Dragons was NSIC Player of the Year candidate Jordan Riewer, who had 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Riewer, who hit 7-of-10 field goals, was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range as he improved on his 51.4 percent shooting percentage from distance this year. He also made 5-of-5 from the charity stripe. Prescott Williams added 20 points for MSUM.
The teams exchanged leads in the early going as USF took a 7-6 lead on a jumper from junior forward J.R. Hollis with 15:51 to play in the first half. MSUM responded with an 11-3 run for a 17-10 edge at the 13:32 mark. The Dragons built a 23-13 lead (10:19) before the Cougars answered with six straight points to draw within 23-19 after a dunk by Bryan Kielpinski.
MSUM extended the lead to 35-24 with 4:55 after a three pointer from Williams. Once again, the Cougars found some momentum and ended the half on a 9-4 run to close within 39-33 at the halftime break.
MSUM maintained a seven-point edge (46-39, 16:24) early in the second half before the Cougars had another run to grab their first lead since since the 15:51 mark of the first half. USF ripped off a 13-2 run to grab a 52-48 advantage after a layup by Ward with 10:46 left in the game. However, the Cougars couldn't sustain the offense as the Dragons answered with a 14-0 run to take a 62-52 lead with 7:30 to play.
Twice the Cougars cut the lead to single digits in the final five minutes but wasn't able to find a run to really cut into the Dragons' lead. In those final five minutes, MSUM hit 11 free throws to squelch any Cougar rally.
USF will try and rebound against Northern State on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Stewart Center.
