MARSHALL, MINN. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (3-5, 0-1 NSIC), despite 26 points from sophomore forward Drew Guebert, dropped another heartbreaker, 74-72, to Southwest Minnesota State (6-0, 1-0 NSIC) to open NSIC play on Tuesday night at the R/A Facility before 1,591 in attendance.

USF has been a bit snake-bit this season with the four of the five losses coming by combined 10 points. And, on top of that, this loss was the second straight two-point setback to SMSU as the Cougars dropped a 62-60 decision a year ago in Marshall, Minn. (Dec. 19, 2015).

In a game that had seven lead changes and 10 ties, the Cougars, which led by eight in the second half (44-36, 16:10), had a chance at the win in the final seconds but Mack Johnson's three was off line as the buzzer sounded.

Guebert, who had five rebounds, led the way for USF with 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, including 4-of-9 from three-point range.  Senior forward Daniel Hurtt hit double digits with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor. M. Johnson had eight points, five rebounds and six assists with two steals. Johnson knocked down a pair of three-point shots to pull into a tie for the career lead at USF with Ryan Coapstick (2001-03) and Derek Brown (2010-14) with 193. In addition, Clint Thomas had nine points and five rebounds while freshman Devin Green provided nine points, three rebounds and three assists.

The Cougars hit 25-of-57 shots from the floor for 43.9 percent and knocked down 11-of-25 from three point range for 44 percent. But USF was hurt on the boards as SMSU, led by Carter Kirk's double double (10 points, 10 rebounds), owned a 44-30 edge, including a 17-7 margin in offensive rebounds. SMSU also had the edge at the foul line, hitting 21-of-26 (80.8 percent) while USF was 11-of-17 (64.7 percent). The Mustangs, which hit 53.1 percent (17-of-32) in the second half, shot 38.3 percent for the game, including 7-of-21 from three point range. Ryan Bruggeman led SMSU with 15 points.

In a back and forth first half, the play of Green and Guebert enabled the Cougars to take a 32-30 lead to the break. Thomas opened the game with a pair of three pointers with his second trey, off an assist from Mack Johnson, providing USF with an 8-2 lead at the 16:20 mark.  

SMSU answered with a six-point run to tie the game at 8-8 on a jumper by Taylor Schafer. After that the teams traded baskets until a 7-0 run by the Mustangs built a 19-12 lead with 6:34 to play. In kind, the Cougars responded with a 9-2 run, keyed by seven points from Guebert and a pair of free throws from Green, to tie the game at 21 at the 3:53 mark of the first half. In that run, Guebert, who had nine points to lead USF in the first half, hit a three and then finished drives with a pair of dunks.

But SMSU answered again to taking a 26-21 advantage before USF responded. The Cougars closed the half on a 9-4 run as Green had five points, including a trey and an offensive rebound put back in the closing seconds to give USF the lead at the break.

In the half, USF made 12-of-32 field goals for 37.5 percent, including five of 10 from three point range. SMSU, which shot just 21.4 percent (6-of-28), including 1-of-6 from three point range, stayed in the game at the foul line, converting 17-of-19 on charity tosses.

At the 18:33 mark of the second half, USF extended its lead to 38-32 with a basket inside from Hurtt. A little later, USF pushed its lead to eight as Guebert and Hurtt hit treys for a 44-36 advantage with 16:10 to play.  But in this game, runs were countered quickly by the trailing team. SMSU answered with a 16-4 run to grab a 52-48 at the 11:41 mark after a Kirk basket inside.

After USF tied the game with 9:57 to play, SMSU had a five-point run for a 57-52 lead. But as promptly, the Cougars struck fast with a Hurtt basket inside and a three-pointer from Thomas to tie the game at 57 with 8:16 to gp. Then, in a SMSU five-point surge, a three-pointer from Ryan Bruggeman and a Bartlett jumper pushed the lead to 62-57 for SMSU at the 7:38 mark.

USF, which shot 52 percent from the field in the second half (13-of-25), rallied to tie the game at 67-67 when Guebert hit back-to-back threes with the second shot from distance at the 4:05 mark.

Once again, SMSU countered, taking a 72-67 lead at the 1:59 mark after a Bruggeman layup.  After Guebert hit a pair of free throws, SMSU's Mitch Weg had an offensive rebound and put back for a 74-69 advantage with a minute to play.

But M. Johnson, knocked home a three-pointer to draw USF within 74-72 with 50 seconds to play. USF was able to hold SMSU on the other end and earned a shot at a tie with 23 seconds left. A layup by Johnson rolled off the rim but the Cougars retained the ball with one second to play. However, Johnson's three pointer was off line as the Cougars dropped a tough road decision.

Next for USF will be a pair of road games at Winona State on Friday, Dec. 2 and Upper Iowa on Dec. 3.