ABERDEEN, S.D. (MSUM Athletics)– The Minnesota State University Moorhead men’s basketball team had a chance to tie in the final seconds but the shot wouldn’t fall as Northern State prevailed, 83-80 in double overtime on Sunday in Aberdeen, S.D.
MSUM fell to 9-8 overall and 4-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while Northern State improved to 10-6 overall and 4-4 in the league. It was the Dragons’ second double overtime loss of 2021-22 as they lost at Oklahoma Baptist in November.
Junior guard Lorenzo McGhee had 19 points for MSUM to lead the way. Junior guard Gavin Baumgartner had 14 points while senior center Jesse Bergh and junior forward Jaden Stanley-Williams had 10 points each.
Three Dragons had six rebounds – Baumgartner, Bergh and sophomore forward Dane Zimmer. Junior guard Bryce Irsfeld led with four assists while senior forward Siman Sem had six steals, a career-high.
MSUM shot 45.5 percent for the game (30-of-66) compared to 42.3 percent (30-of-71) for the Wolves. Northern had a 40-35 edge on the glass.
The Dragons were down 83-78 in overtime before Baumgartner hit two foul shots to cut the lead to three with 1:42 left. But the Dragons wouldn’t score again, going 0-for-2 from the field and 0-of-2 from the foul line during the final stretch.
MSUM led 31-28 at halftime, and added to the lead throughout the second half. A Stanley-Williams basket gave MSUM its largest lead, 64-49 with 5:52 left in the game.
The Dragons held a 68-54 lead with 3:48 left but went cold as the Wolves scored the final 14 points of regulation.
MSUM had a five-point lead in the first overtime, taking a 76-71 lead with 2:04 left in that frame after Stanley-Williams hit a basket. But Northern scored the final five points to tie the game. MSUM had a chance to win it in the final seconds of the first overtime but the shot wouldn’t fall.
Irsfeld finished with nine points.
MSUM is on the road next weekend, starting Friday at Augustana for a 5:30 p.m. game in Sioux Falls.
Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | 1/2/2022 6:45:00 PM | Tom Berg
