SIOUX FALLS – Despite a season-high 27 points from senior guard Mack Johnson, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (6-8, 2-4 NSIC) dropped another hard luck decision to Southwest Minnesota State (10-1, 5-1 NSIC), falling 87-86 to the Stewart Center on Saturday night.

For USF, the loss was the third straight to SMSU, all by two points or less. USF, which ended a four-game home stand at 2-2, lost earlier this month at SMSU, 74-72, and lost tonight by one. A year ago in Marshall, Minn., USF fell, 62-60. The Cougars have obviously been a bit snake-bit this season with six of eight losses coming by a combined 13 points.  In fact, five of the losses, including three setbacks in NSIC play, have been by two points or less.

After USF took an 86-83 lead with 1:21 to play on two free throws by junior guard Zach Wessels, SMSU closed the game with four straight points, including Ryan Bruggeman's game-winning lay-up with 10 seconds to play.  Prior to Bruggeman's basket, Johnson had a chance to extend USF's one-point lead (86-85) but missed a one-and-one at the foul line. With 4.7 seconds to play USF had an opportunity at the win but sophomore forward Drew Guebert's jumper was short.

Johnson, who ranks 10th all-time with 1,393 points, recorded his 20th career 20-point game by hitting 6-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-7 from three point range. He knocked down 12-of-13 from the foul line while adding seven assists, five rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes of action. Guebert also had a standout night with 23 points, hitting 9-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. For the third time in his career, Wessels reached double digits in points with 16, adding two assists and two steals. He was 6-of-12 from the floor. A fourth USF player, Clint Thomas, reached double digits with 12 points, as he hit 4-of-5 from three point range.
 
Overall, the Cougars knocked down 29-of-59 field goals for 49.2 percent, making 9-of-20 three-point field goals and 19-of-22 from the foul line for 86.4 percent. For just the third time in 14 games, USF lost the rebound battle with SMSU holding a 36-to-24 advantage. SMSU made 30-of-59 field goals for 50.8 percent and knocked in 6-of-15 from three-point range. They had a slight edge at the foul line by making 21-of-27 for 77.8 percent. SMSU had six players in double digit points with reserve Taylor Schafer providing 14 and both Joey Bartlett and KJ Davis adding 13. Bruggeman finished with 11 points and four rebounds.
 
In the early going, things were clearly going USF's way. Just 18:30 into the first half, Guebert knocked in a pair of threes and Johnson converted a drive for an 8-3 lead over SMSU. At the 16:45 mark, Johnson hit a three for a 13-4 lead. Johnson, who had 12 points in the opening 5:04 of the half and a season high 21 first half points, provided the Cougars with an 18-8 lead on a three-pointer at the 14:56 mark.

After SMSU drew within seven, Wessels fed Kebu Johnson inside and his basket gave USF a 22-13 lead. After K. Johnson's was fouled on the shot and missed the ensueing foul shot, USF grabbed the board and Thomas splashed in a three-pointer shot for a 25-13 lead with 12:15 to play. For USF, which led the entire first half, the margin was the largest for either team in the game.

With a 9-0 run, the Mustangs rallied to cut the lead to 25-22 at the 8:52 mark after four straight free throws from Joey Bartlett. Off an assist from Johnson, Wessels converted a lay-up as the Cougars built a 31-26 lead with 6:51 to play. The Mustangs cut the lead to 31-30 on a Taylor Schafer basket (5:22) but USF pushed the lead back to 36-30 with 4:30 to play when Thomas knocked home another three-pointer. In the back and forth offensive show, the Cougars took a 50-41 advantage when Johnson hit a three-pointer with 1:10 to play in the half.  However, Bruggeman, who had seven points in the half, knocked down a three as the Cougars took a 50-44 advantage to halftime.

In the opening half, Johnson's performance helped USF to the lead over their travel partner. He made 6-of-10 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 from three point range and all six of his foul shots. Guebert had 11 and Thomas nine. Overall USF was 16-of-32 from the field for 50 percent, making 8-of-13 from three point range for 61.5 percent. The Cougars made 10-of-12 free throws. While SMSU did not shoot as well as USF (12-of-27 for 44.4 percent) but made 16-of-18 free throws for 89 percent to stay close.

SMSU outscored USF, 43-36 in the second half with both teams holding leads during the final 20 minutes.  Guebert's lay-up at 19:37 helped USF to a 52-44 lead. However the visiting Mustangs had the answer as a 9-2 run, culminated by a lay-up from Carter Kirk cut the lead to 54-53 with 17:25 left to play. A lay-up by Turner Moen tied the game at 57 with 16:21 on the clock. Over the next six minutes, the Cougars maintained a two-point lead with Wessel's lay-up giving USF a 69-67 lead with 11:41 to play.  After SMSU tied the game for the fifth time in the half, a three-point play by Wessels (10:57) and a basket from Daniel Hurtt gave the Cougars a 74-69 advantage.

Once again, SMSU had an answer as a 7-0 run, capped by a basket from Davis, provided SMSU with a 76-74 advantage. With 4:42 to play, Kirk scored inside as the Mustangs pushed their lead to 83-78.

This time, the Cougars rallied as M. Johnson made a pair of free throws (2:52), Guebert had a dunk (2:15) and a lay-up (1:48) as a 6-0 run gave USF an 84-83 lead with 1:48 to play. From there, Wessels made his free throws which was answered by the game-closing 4-0 run by SMSU which maintained a tie for the lead in the NSIC South.

After the Christmas break, the Cougars will be back in action at 8 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Wayne State.