MARYVILLE, Mo. – Ryan Bruggeman had 29 points and second-seeded Southwest Minnesota State took advantage of a late technical foul to earn a 74-70 victory over East Central (Okla.) in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Central Region men's basketball tournament on Sunday night.
Southwest Minnesota State advances to region final
March 13, 2017 at 4:10AM
Southwest Minnesota State (28-5), which tied a school record for victories in a season, will play for its third region championship Tuesday night against top-seeded and host Northwest Missouri State. The Mustangs won region titles in 2001 and '09.
Third-seeded East Central (25-8) led 56-47 with 8 minutes, 47 seconds to play, but Southwest Minnesota State rallied with an 11-2 run, tying the score on back-to-back three-pointers by Taylor Schafer.
Schafer gave his team the lead for good with 2:30 to play at 66-64 with two free throws. With 1:01 to play, East Central's Braxton Reeves picked up a technical after a missed jumper. Schafer made one free throw, and Mitch Weg soon hit two more for a 69-64 lead.
Schafer scored 15 points, 13 in the second half.
Northwest Missouri State 74, Augustana 53: The host Bearcats improved to 31-1 by beating the fifth-seeded Vikings (24-9).
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After hundreds of Minnesotans got a head start on finalizing their athletic scholarships in November and December, more can begin choosing their college destination beginning Wednesday.
