USF is going to the Pentagon, after routing St. Cloud State 85-59 on Tuesday night at the Stewart Center in first round NSIC tournament action.
With the win, USF (19-10) advances to the quarterfinals where they'll face MSU-Moorhead on Sunday night (7 p.m.) at the Sanford Pentagon. It marks the sixth consecutive season that USF won its first round NSIC tournament game to reach the Pentagon.
The Cougars were playing without Matt Cartwwright, the NSIC's second-leading scorer at 21.9 points per game, and guard Jack Thompson stepped up in the injured Cartwright's absence. Thompson scored a career-high 35 points on 15-of-26 shooting, as the Cougars pulled away in the second half behind a 50 percent to 40 percent shooting edge, and aided by a 37-25 rebounding advantage and 21 Huskies turnovers.
Conner Jackson had 15 points and Kenji Scales 13 for the Cougars, while Noah Puetz had four points, six assists and six rebounds. USF went 12-of-25 from 3-point land in the game.
Andre Renta had 15 points to lead the Huskies, who end their season at 10-18.
ADVERTISEMENT
Cartwright is questionable to return for Sunday's game against the Dragons, who are 22-6 on the season. Moorhead defeated USF 85-80 at the Stewart Center in their only regular season meeting.
MINOT STATE 86, SMSU 85 (3OT) in Marshall, Minn. - Camron Dunfee hit a jumper as time expired to lift Minot State to an 86-85 triple overtime victory over Southwest Minnesota State in first round NSIC tournament action.
MSU (11-16), which was the No. 5 seed from the North division, advances to the quarterfinals on Saturday at the Pentagon where they'll face Northern State. SMSU, the No. 4 seed from the NSIC South, ends its season with an overall record of 16-12.
Khari Broadway had 19 points to lead the Beavers, while Dunwa Omot set career highs with 30 points and 12 rebounds for SMSU.
MINNESOTA DULUTH 88, MSU-MANKATO 68 in Duluth - Charlie Katona had 23 points and Drew Blair 22 as the Bulldogs moved on to the quarterfinals. Duluth shot 57 percent from the floor for the game, including .409 from 3-point land.
Mankato finishes the season 17-12, while UMD improves to 21-8. The Bulldogs will face Upper Iowa on Sunday at 4:30 at the Pentagon.
Women
SMSU 83, MINNESOTA CROOKSTON 66 in Marshall, Minn. - SMSU scored 31 first-quarter points to set the tone on their way to a first-round NSIC tournament win over the Golden Eagles. With the win, SMSU (18-10) advances to the Pentagon where they'll face St. Cloud State at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Mustangs made a season-high 15 3-pointers, including a school-record-tying seven by Jenna Borchers, who had 27 points to lead the way.
ADVERTISEMENT
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Women
First round games
Wednesday
Wayne State at Mary
Concordia-St. Paul at MSU-Moorhead
Upper Iowa at Northern State
Second round games (Sanford Pentagon)
Saturday
Minnesota Duluth vs CSP/MSUM, 11 a.m.
MSU-Mankato vs Mary/Wayne, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday
Augustana vs. NSU/UIU, 11 a.m.
St. Cloud State vs. SMSU/UMC, 1:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Championship
Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Men
First round games
Wednesday
Augustana at Bemidji State, 6 p.m.
Second round games (Sanford Pentagon)
Saturday
Northern State vs. SMSU/Minot, 4:30 p.m.
Wayne State vs. BSU/Augie, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Upper Iowa vs. UMD/MSUM, 4:30 p.m.
MSU-Moorhead vs. USF/SCSU, 7 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, 4:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Championship
Tuesday, 7 p.m.
