Phipps would give SMSU the lead early in the second half with a free throw before the Mustangs slowly built a 51-44 lead with 13:15 remaining after a Omot 3-pointer.Īnthony Costello would give SMSU a 10-point, 61-51 lead with just under eight minutes left in the game, but USF wouldn’t go away using an 11-2 run over a four-minute stretch to make the score 63-62 at the 3:30 mark following a Cartwright 3-pointer. USF stopped the run with a field goal, but Byers and Phipps would drill 3-pointers in the final minute to tie the game at 36 at the break. Cliff McCray started the rally with a jumper before Omot drilled a 3-pointer and was followed by back-to-back 3-pointers by Phipps to cut the deficit to 36-32 at the four-minute mark. SMSU answered back in a big way to stay in the game and eventually tied the game heading into the half time break behind outstanding 3-point shooting. USF would continue to dominate and eventually extended the lead to 36-21 with six minutes remaining in the half. USF would answer back and score 11 straight points before Phipps stopped the run with a jumper midway through the half. The two teams played a tight opening eight minutes with SMSU holding a 14-13 advantage following the first career 3-pointer by Logan Benson. Matt Cartwright, a senior transfer from Augustana, led the Cougars with 19 points while making four 3-pointers. The Cougars closed the night shooting 40 percent (25 of 62), including 11 of 28 from 3-point range. The Mustangs finished the game shooting 46 percent (27 of 59) from the field and held a 33-32 rebound advantage.