MOORHEAD, Minn. – No. 19 Minnesota State Moorhead closed the game on a 15-6 run in the final four minutes to earn a 75-67 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men’s basketball.



SMSU held a 61-60 lead with 3:58 left in the game, but MSUM answered with a 6-0 run over the next two minutes to pull out the victory and improve to 11-0 overall, 7-0 NSIC.  SMSU drops to 6-6 overall, 5-3 NSIC.



MSUM, which entered the game ranked fourth in the nation in 3-point field goal pct., connected on 10 3-pointers, including 6 of 9 in the second half to help earn the victory.  SMSU finished the game just 2 of 13 from 3-point range.



Matt Zager led SMSU with a season-high 19 points on 6 of 10 shooting and added five rebounds.  Nick Smith added 12 points and five rebounds.



SMSU held the lead for much of the first half building its largest lead at 23-17 with eight minutes and 30 seconds left in the half following a field goal by Nick Smith.



The Mustangs limited the Dragons to just 36 percent shooting in the opening half, including just 4 of 16 from 3-point range.  SMSU held a 27-13 rebound advantage in the first half, limiting MSUM to just one offensive rebound.



Matt Zager led SMSU with 11 points in the first half on 4 of 5 shooting.



MSUM started the second half red-hot, drilling three of its first four 3-pointers and built a 50-42 lead with 12:47 left in the game, as SMSU went five minutes without a field goal.



SMSU battled back and tied the game at 55 with 6:24 on the clock on a put-back layup by Casey Sussenguth.  Following a free throw by MSUM, SMSU regained the lead at 58-57 with 5:13 remaining on a lay-up by Sussenguth off of a great pass by Jordan Miller.



MSUM held a 60-57 lead moments later until an SMSU free throw and 3-pointer by Miller gave SMSU the lead at 61-60 with 3:58 remaining.  The Dragons answered right back with six straight points to build the lead to 66-61 and never looked back to take over sole possession of first place in the NSIC.



SMSU finished with a 38-36 rebound advantage in the game, but MSUM held a 23-11 advantage in the second half with eight offensive rebounds.



SMSU leading scorer, Jordan Miller, was just 1 of 10 from the field and finished with three points.



Southwest Minnesota State returns home on Saturday, Jan. 7, to begin a three-game homestand taking on Minnesota State, Mankato (4-8, 3-5 NSIC) with tip-off set for 6 p.m.