#DragonsMarchOn: MSUM Earns First Trip to Elite 8 With 47-42 Win Over Northwest Missouri State
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Division II Elite 8 for the first time in school history.
The Dragons earned the trip with a 47-42 win over Northwest Missouri State in the Central Region Championship game at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Junior center Isaac Sevlie was named the Central Region Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while senior guard Prescott Williams and sophomore guard Aaron Lien were all-tournament selections.
The Dragons improved to 35-3 in their record-setting campaign while Northwest Missouri State ended the year at 25-7. The Dragons will face Bellarmine on March 25 in Evansville, Ind.
“It’s hard to put into words,” MSUM senior guard Jordan Riewer said. “It’s an unbelievable team win. It’s the best team win we’ve had all year.”
Senior guard Jordan Riewer had 13 points, four assists and three rebounds for MSUM, while Sevlie had 11 points, including a huge second half three-pointer. Lien had nine points and seven rebounds while junior guard Tyler Vaughan had five points and seven rebounds.
MSUM shot 36.7 percent (18-of-49) for the game while holding Northwest Missouri State to 28.8 percent (15-of-52). MSUM had a 37-31 advantage in rebounds.
The Dragons led 20-18 after a defensive-oriented first half but methodically built its lead in the second half. MSUM was energized by a pair of blocks by Sevlie to open the second half. Sevlie had a thunderous dunk and Lien followed with a layup to give MSUM a 24-18 lead, its largest of the night so far.
The Bearcats answered with a 7-0 run to take a 25-24 lead with 15:42 left.
The game was tied at 27-27 when MSUM went on an 8-0 run, sparked from four points from Lien, to take a 35-27 lead with 9:18 left.
In a game where large scoring runs were scarce, the Dragons’ 8-0 spurt proved huge in providing separation.
“We started doing a better job of attacking,” MSUM head coach Chad Walthall said. “We had to attack and get things at the rim. That was key for us.”
MSUM saw its eight-point lead shrink to 39-35, but Sevlie buried a three from the top of the key to make it 42-35 with 3:47 left.
“Earlier I had a chance to take one but I wasn’t looking for the shot,” Sevlie said. “You’ve got to be ready. The next time, I just knew.”
The Bearcats cut the lead to 42-39 in the final minute, but Riewer was 5-for-6 in the final minute to help MSUM ice a 47-42 win.
The first half was a defensive battle with five ties and six lead changes. MSUM took a 20-18 lead into halftime, thanks to a Riewer basket in the final seconds.
MSUM shot 32 percent (8-of-25) in the first half compared to 28.8 percent (6-of-23) for the Bearcats. Seven Dragons found the scoring column in the first half, led by Riewer and Sevlie with four each.
Steve d’Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight was the third overall Regional Championship for the Dragons and their first in the NCAA. The first Regional title came when the Dragons beat Mankato St. 77-68 (coached by former NSIC Commissioner Butch Raymond) in Moorhead in March, 1980 and the second came two years later, as the Dragons won at Concordia College over the Cobbers 82-76 in March, 1982. Both the 1980 and 1982 teams were coached by Dave Schellhase.
Article from msumdragons.com.