SIOUX FALLS — Facing a 27-point halftime deficit, the second-seeded Southwest Minnesota State University mens basketball team came back within 8 points, but it was too much of a barrier to fully overcome in the final minutes as it suffered a 71-60 loss to No. 7 Winona State Saturday night in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament semifinals in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Following the tournament elimination, SMSU will now hope to keep its season going with a bid into the NCAA Tournament during Selection Sunday this weekend. The show airs at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com.

The top eight teams in a region advance to the tournament to compete for a national title, and the Central Region, which SMSU resides in, consists of 41 teams from the NSIC, Great American Conference and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The postseason winner of each conference earns an automatic bid into the NCAA, with the remaining five spots awarded at-large.

In last week’s NCAA Central Region rankings prior to the tournament loss, the Mustangs were selected third by the NCAA national committee. SMSU was one of eight NSIC names to make the list, with MIAA’s Washburn being ranked first. There will be a final weekly rating released on Wednesday.

Jakob Braaten led with 21 points behind four 3-pointers, his sixth 20-point game of the season, while Dunwa Omot, Aeron Stevens and Mekhi Shaw each tallied 10 points. Braaten and Stevens shared a team-high six rebounds.

WSU shot 64% from the field in the first half to pressure the Mustangs early on, and finished shooting 56%. The Warriors limited SMSU to a 40% field goal mark.

With seven minutes remaining, SMSU climbed back to trail 61-53 with back-to-back 3-pointers from Omot, but WSU was able to withstand the rally to finish the game off.

SMSU heads into selection Sunday at 21-8 overall and 16-6 in conference.