Sanford Stampede - Red-hot offense leads Mside into second round

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – History can repeat itself from time to time.

It did and happily so for Morningside College Thursday, March 8. Head coach Jim Sykes' Mustangs, ranked No. 4 on the final National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Division II poll and the top-seed in the Cramer Bracket of the national championships, took a page from past Maroon teams in the first round, winning for the sixth time in seven such attempts.

Morningside, improving to 28-3, posted 16 of the contest's first 26 points against North Star Athletic Association tournament champion Mayville State University and didn't look back in front of a partisan Mside Pentagon crowd. Hitting 90-points-or-more for the 14^th time this season, the Mustangs turned away the eighth-seeded Comets 90-55.

Sophomore center Trey Brown (SO/Gretna, NE ) (Gretna, Neb.) led the way in scoring and rebounding, coming off the bench for an impressive 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in just over 15 minutes of play. Junior forward Matt Hahn (JR/Fremont, NE ) (Fremont, Neb.), hitting three-of-five three-point tries, finished with 13, and junior forward/center Tyler Borchers (JR/Le Mars, IA ) (LeMars, Iowa) and sophomore guard Zach Imig (SO/Gretna, NE ) (Gretna, Neb.) turned in 10 points apiece.

Sykes and his staff were able to provide playing time for the entire roster with the lead growing at seemingly every turn due to converting at better than 56 percent from the field and holding a sizable 46-35 rebounding advantage. As a result, 11 individuals posted points.

The Maroon move into second round action Friday, March 8, with a 7:30 p.m. match-up against Mount Vernon Nazarene University of Ohio.