By: Tom Berg, Assistant AD for Media Relations

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- An 18-4 run over the final 9:18 proved to be the difference as the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team topped Viterbo, 63-53, in nonconference action Saturday at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn.

The Dragons improved to 10-1 overall with their fifth straight win, while Viterbo fell to 9-8.

Senior Anthony Tucker had 16 points to pace the Dragons, while senior forward Alex Novak had 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Freshman Tyler Vaughan added 12 points, a team-best four assists and four rebounds. Senior Eric Olson had a team-high nine rebounds.

MSUM pulled through late after trailing for much of the contest, including by as many as nine points late in the first half. The Dragons faced a 49-45 deficit with 9:44 before beginning their charge. Sophomore Jordan Riewer started the run with a three-pointer with 9:18 left, and moments later, Tucker drained a three-pointer to give the Dragons their first lead (51-49) since the 17:26 mark of the first half.

Viterbo tied the game at 53-53 with 5:51 left but would not score again as the Dragons outscored the V-Hawks 10-0 down the stretch.  Tucker scored six points during the final run, including a dunk and two free throws in the final 35 seconds.

MSUM led 5-2 early, thanks to a Tucker layup and a conventional three-point play by freshman Brady Wohler, but Viterbo went on 9-0 run to take an 11-5 lead.  The score was tied at 17-17 before Viterbo scored five straight points to take a 22-17 lead, on its way to a 31-28 halftime lead.

The Dragons trailed 35-28 with 17:57 left in the second half but went on a 10-3 run to tie the game at 38-38 with 13:32 left.   Novak had four points during that run, while Tucker and Vaughan drained threes. From there, the game stayed close until the Dragons pulled away over the final nine minutes.

Freshman Ben Figini gave the Dragons good play off the bench, scoring six points and adding five rebounds in 14 minutes. Riewer had seven points and four rebounds to go with two assists.

MSUM is back in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Friday, Jan. 4, at home against Minnesota-Crookston.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight marked the final non-conference game of the season. The final non-conference game of the 2006/2007 season saw current Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Production Jon Wepking hit both of his shots from the field, score his collegiate career high six points, and grab three rebounds helping his Dragons defeat Trinity Bible College 89-65 on January 9, 2007.