Mooney, South Dakota hold off NAU 90-77 in busy 2nd half

Dec 15, 2017, 05:16 am

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Matt Mooney scored 22 of his 24 points after halftime as South Dakota held off a suddenly lively Northern Arizona 90-77 Thursday night, winning for the fifth time in six games.

South Dakota (10-3) led 38-23 by halftime as two of Northern Arizona's best scorers had combined for just five points. After the break it was time for something completely different. JoJo Anderson caught fire for Northern Arizona (2-9) scoring 27 of his career-high 30 points with four 3-pointers a blocked shot and three steals in the last 20 minutes when the Lumberjacks came as close as five twice.

Mooney scored to chill the first NAU rally and did it again late in the game. Mooney fouled Anderson, turning his 3-pointer into a 4-point play that cut the lead to 78-73 with three minutes left.

Mooney scored four straight and six of the next nine as South Dakota built the lead to 87-75 by 1:25. Tyler Hagedorn added 20 points and Nick Fuller a career-high 17. The 10-3 start is South Dakota's best in Division I.

Carlos Hines added 10 points for NAU in his second game of the season after injury. Chris Bowling scored 13 but was of three Lumberjacks to foul out.