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Warriors Deal Spartans Heartbreaking Loss at M State

The Spartan Men’s Basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Ridgewater on Wednesday night, losing 79-78 at M State in Fergus Falls. Malik Westerfield went coast to coast for a driving layup that gave the Warriors the lead with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation. A turnover on the inbounds play by M State ended the game.

January 25, 2023
Box Score

The Spartan Men's Basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Ridgewater on Wednesday night, losing 79-78 at M State in Fergus Falls.  Malik Westerfield went coast to coast for a driving layup that gave the Warriors the lead with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation.  A turnover on the inbounds play by M State ended the game.

The game featured six ties and ten lead changes.  M State fell behind 15-8 as Jaylyn Clardy scored the first 15 points of the game for the Warriors.  The Spartans were able to score nine straight points to take a 17-15 lead, increased their lead to 31-20 and held a 39-34 halftime lead.  Ridgewater fought back in the second half, leading by as many as twelve points at 62-50.

M State shot 53.4% from the floor (31-58) and made 44.4% (8-18) of their three's.  They also held a 36-31 edge on the boards.  Ridgewater made 46% (13-32 of their field goal attempts.

Clardy made 13-of-19 shots and finished with a game high 31 points, while Westerfield finished with a dozen for the Warriors.

M State was led by 26 from Akok Aguer on 10-of-17 shooting.  He also had 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.  Yonis Mohamud was 8-for-12 from the field, scoring 19 points.  He also had 4 steals.  Noel Kabanga contributed 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Ridgewater scored 23 points off 20 Spartan turnovers and M State had 19 points off 18 Ridgewater turnovers.

M State will host the Mayville State JV team at 3:00pm on Saturday.

The 1997-98 NJCAA Division III National Championship Spartan Men's Basketball team will be recognized on the 25th Anniversary of their title.  The team will be inducted into the Spartan Booster Legends Hall of Fame at a ceremony following the Men's game and there will be a reception for the team in Legacy Hall.  Fans are invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony and the reception!