Southwest Minnesota State advances to region final

March 13, 2017 at 4:10AM

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 (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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