In 18 minutes of action, Southwest Minnesota State reserve guard Trent Carlson made every minute matter.
With a career 6-for-8 performance beyond the three-point line, Carlson scored a game-high 18 points, pushing the Mustangs past Concordia-St. Paul 88-77 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Friday in St. Paul.
As a team, SMSU (12-6 NSIC, 13-9 overall) shot 50.9 percent, with six players scoring in double digits. Will Giddings, Nick Smith and Tramel Barnes each had 12, while Jordan Miller and Casey Sussenguth each notch 10 in the victory.
Tied at 24, the Mustangs went on an 8-0 run late in the first half, eventually taking a 39-32 lead into the locker room at halftime. Smith scored nine points in the first half.
SMSU jumped to a 62-43 lead with 13 minutes, 32 seconds left in the contest after four straight free throws by Miller and Tramel Barnes. Barnes shot a perfect 12 of 12 from the free-throw line, and the team went 26-for-32 at the line.
The Mustangs stay on the road today, taking on the NSIC's second-place team, St. Cloud State. On Friday, the Huskies defeated Minnesota State-Mankato 64-63 when Tim Bergstraser scored the game-winning basket with .8 seconds left in the game.
SMSU (88)
Will Giddings 4-7 4-6 12, Nick Smith 5-7 2-4 12, Vinard Birch 2-6 0-0 4, Jordan Miller 2-8 4-4 10, Matt Zager 3-5 0-0 6, Tramel Barnes 0-2 12-12 12, Trent Carlson 6-8 0-0 18, Lavione West 1-3 2-4 4, Casey Sussenguth 4-7 2-2 10. Totals 27-53 26-32 88. Three-Pointers 8-15 (Carlson 6-8) Rebounds 30 (Giddings 5) Assists 18 (Miller 4, Barnes 4) Steals 11 (Barnes 3) Blocks 4 Turnovers 13 Total Fouls 10.
Concordia-St. Paul (77)
Brent Barz 7-13 2-2 16, Isaiah Thomas 5-6 0-0 15, Kenny Olafeso 5-8 4-4 14, Peter Olafeso 6-16 2-2 17, Cole Olstad 0-4 1-2 1, Clay Olstad 0-0 0-0 0, Cordell Smith 0-3 0-0 0, Zach Towle 0-1 0-0 0, Terez Van Pelt 5-10 2-3 14, Taylor Steinbauer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-62 11-13 77. Three-Pointers 10-23 (Thomas 5-5) Rebounds 34 (Barz 8, K. Olafeso 8) Assists 19 (P. Olafeso 5) Steals 4 (P. Olafeso 2) Blocks 6 (K. Olafeso 2) Turnovers 19 Total Fouls 20.
Halftime Score: SMSU 39, Concordia-St. Paul 32.