MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Trevon Evans scored a season-high 39 points but the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (15-9, 10-8 NSIC) dropped a 75-71 decision to MSU Moorhead (18-8, 12-6 NSIC) at the Nemzek Fieldhouse.

Despite the loss, USF, which fell to 10-8 in league play, remained tied for third in the NSIC South.  The Cougars fell to 4-8 this season in games decided by six points or fewer.
 
Evans, who finished just short of his career best of 42 points against Northern State a year ago, finished off a big scoring weekend as he had 67 points or 33.5 per game against MSUM and NSU. Against the Dragons, he made 15-of-25 field goals and had three treys with 6-of-7 free throws, two assists and three steals.

Evans has 24 straight double-digit scoring games in 2018-19 and 28 dating to last year. The Wichita, Kan., senior guard has 15, 20-point games this season and 31 for his career with 50 career double-digit scoring games. He also had this third 30 point game of the game and ninth of his career. With his three triples Evans tied Mack Johnson (2015-16) and Nathan Unruh (1995-96) for seventh on USF's all-time season list for made threes with 72.

He was the only player in double digits for USF but senior forward Drew Guebert, who was plagued by foul issues, had nine points, four rebounds and his 253^rd career three. He also improved his career total to 1,870 points, which ranks third all-time at USF. With 22 points this weekend, Guebert has moved into the top-10 all-time in NSIC career scoring. Justin Taylor added seven points and four rebounds while Chase Grinde had seven points, three assists and two steals.

MSUM opened up an 11-4 lead in the opening six minutes and took a 37-29 lead to halftime. The Cougars had a 42-38 edge in the second half but it wasn't enough. USF had three second half leads but just by one point while MSUM led by as many as 11 in the second half before USF rallied.

The Cougars, which had 17 turnovers, won the rebounding battle, 36-to-26, for the 23^rd time in 24 games. However MSUM was able to pick up this win due to their precise shooting. MSUM, which was led by 16 points from Travaun Cody, hit 52.8 percent from the field on 28-of-53 shooting. USF was at 48.2 percent on 27-of-56 shooting. USF was hurt by his three-point shooting with just four made in 20 attempts. MSUM was 6-of-13 and both teams made 13 foul shots.  

Game Breakdown –
MSUM, which hit 53.8 percent (14-of-26) in the first half, opened up the 11-4 lead at the 13:51 mark. A jumper by Johnny Beeninga gave the Dragons a 19-11 lead with 10 minutes left in the half. USF, which made 44.0 percent (11-of-25 from the field) in the first half, had a 12-5 run to draw within 24-23 on Justin Taylor's jumper at the 5:38 mark. A three-pointer by Bryce Irsfeld pushed MSUM's lead to 30-23.

With 2:44 to play, the Cougars drew within 32-29 after a lay-up by Grinde.  But MSUM closed on a 5-0 run to take a 37-29 lead to the break. Evans had 15 points to lead USF in the opening 20 minutes.

In the second half, MSUM quickly took a 40-29 lead on a three-pointer by Gavin Baumgartner at the 19:04 mark.

With a 15-to-8 run, USF cut the deficit to 48-44 at the 13:05 mark on a three-point play by Evans. After the Dragons moved the lead back to eight (52-44, 12:34), the Cougars responded. They had an 11-2 run to take the lead at 55-54 after Guebert made a lay-up (9:33, 2^nd). But Addison Park, who had 15 points, hit a three to give MSUM the lead at 57-55.

USF took the lead again at 58-57 on a basket from Evans. But MSUM answered with an 8-to-2 run for a 66-60 lead with 4:17 to play. The Cougars cut the lead to three points twice and to two points with two seconds to play but simply ran out of time.

Next for USF will be a pair of home matchups with Winona State on Friday, Feb. 15 and Upper Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 16, which will be Senior Night.