Central Missouri’s season over after 71-60 loss to Minnesota State-Moorhead

The defending champion is out of the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament.

Central Missouri, the No. 3 seed in the Central Region, lost 71-60 to No. 2 seed Minnesota State-Moorhead on Sunday in a regional semifinal in Sioux Falls, S.D.

TJ White scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Mules, who finished the season 25-8. The Dragons took the lead for good in the first half with a 16-0 run.

Minnesota State-Moorhead will play Northwest Missouri, which knocked off top-seeded Augustana 66-65, for a spot in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Justin Pitts scored 22 points for the Bearcats.

▪ The Central Regional women’s championship will be decided Monday in Hays, Kan., where top-seeded Fort Hays State will play No. 2 seed Emporia State at 7 p.m. for a spot in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Sioux Falls.

This story was originally published March 15, 2015 at 10:53 PM with the headline "Central Missouri’s season over after 71-60 loss to Minnesota State-Moorhead."