By Wayne Nelson
Herald Staff Writer
SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- UND's Curtis Munlin has been waiting all season to show what he can do.
The junior point guard couldn't have picked a better time to show his skills in helping UND beat Morningside College 91-69 on Friday night at Allee Gymnasium, a win that left the Sioux alone in second place in the North Central Conference.
"I've been struggling with my shooting all year," Munlin said. "The coaches and my teammates have been behind me, telling me to keep shooting. Tonight, they finally went in."
As a result, UND -- 18-4 overall and 7-4 in the NCC -- took another step toward qualifying for the NCAA Division II men's basketball playoffs. The Sioux can make a major stride tonight with a win at league-leading South Dakota.
If Munlin continues to play the way he did against Morningside, the Sioux will throw another weapon at the well-balanced Coyotes. Munlin finished with a season-high 16 points and added seven rebounds.
His play in the final 12 minutes helped the Sioux break open a close game.
Munlin hit back-to-back baskets 23 seconds apart to start UND's surge. Munlin's first basket came after he lofted a high shot on a drive down the lane. His second, a three-pointer, gave the Sioux to a 65-55 advantage with 9:01 remaining. Munlin's baskets were the start to a 13-1 UND run.
Munlin and the rest of the Sioux were out to prove a point. Morningside beat UND 84-83 last month in Grand Forks, rallying from an 18-point deficit in the final six minutes. Words also were exchanged.
"It was a challenge with (Morningside point guard) John Barber," Munlin said. "He kind of disrespected us a little bit on the court (in Grand Forks). I took it upon myself to have a big game against him."
UND put the Mustangs away after Brady Larson was whistled for a technical foul with 12:34 left. Larson was on the receiving end of an elbow thrown by Morningside's Brent Horsley in front of the Mustangs' bench.
Horsley was called for the offensive foul, but Larson -- with his nose bloodied -- went after the Morningside player before being restrained by the Sioux.
Barber made one of two free throws on the technical, cutting UND's lead to 55-53. After that, however, it was all UND, which scored on 14 of 17 possessions after two Marcus Travis free throws gave the Sioux a 60-53 advantage.
"We played with a high level of passion," UND coach Rich Glas said. "It was a matter of what team would stay relentless the whole way. As a result of our consistent effort, it kind of wore on Morningside."
To a degree, UND took advantage of Larson's technical foul.
"That's a technical foul against our team, but that was the right thing (for Larson) to do," Mustard said. "You just can't back down. You could see that Brady's technical was a turning point. We just turned it up from there."
Mustard was dominating, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He earned his points, too, as play in the paint bordered on anarchy at times. But Mustard said Munlin's play on the perimeter was the boost the Sioux needed.
Travis, however, produced the highlight play of the season when he soared for a one-handed tip-in after crashing the basket from the free-throw line. "That play epitomized our effort," Glas said.
The Mustangs were led by Justin VanMeeteren's 22 points. Matthew Drevo finished with 14.
"They kept making shots on us," Morningside coach Jerry Schmutte said. "The play of their point guard (Munlin) and Mustard was big. Munlin really hurt us."
And that's what Munlin has been waiting to do all season.
| UND (91) | |||
| Name | FG | FT | Points |
| Mustard | 10-19 | 5-5 | 25 |
| Travis | 3-9 | 3-4 | 10 |
| Behrens | 3-7 | 2-2 | 10 |
| Munlin | 5-9 | 4-7 | 16 |
| Larson | 1-5 | 2-2 | 4 |
| Jacobson | 2-4 | 2-2 | 8 |
| Ristvedt | 2-3 | 0-0 | 5 |
| Badding | 2-2 | 1-1 | 5 |
| Reinke | 3-7 | 1-2 | 8 |
| Sheplee | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Walker | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Totals | 31-65 | 20-25 | 91 |
| Morningside (69) | |||
| Coapstick | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Osborn | 4-11 | 2-2 | 10 |
| Barber | 1-7 | 1-2 | 4 |
| Meske | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Horsley | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Simms | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Schneiderman | 3-5 | 0-2 | 6 |
| Schafer | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 |
| Musick | 2-8 | 0-0 | 5 |
| Van Mueteren | 7-9 | 6-9 | 22 |
| M. Drevo | 6-15 | 0-2 | 14 |
| A. Drevo | 3-7 | 0-1 | 6 |
| Totals | 27-67 | 9-18 | 69 |
Halftime: North Dakota 35, Morningside 35.
3-point goals: UND 9-17 (Munlin 2-3, Larson 0-4, Jacobson 2-2, Travis 1-3, Ristvedt 1-1, Reinke 1-2, Behrens 2-2). M 6-26 (Barber 1-6, Meske 0-1, Horsley 0-1, Schneiderman 0-1, Musick 1-5, Van Mueteren 2-4, M. Drevo 2-5, A. Drevo 0-3).
Rebounds: UND 49 (Mustard 10), M 35 (Schneiderman 7, Osborn 7).
Assists: UND 9 (Munlin 4), M 9 (Barber 3).
Total fouls: UND 17, M 9.