PLAINVIEW — The Southland boys basketball team didn’t make it easy on themselves but they knocked off Plainview-Elgin-Millville (7-5 overall, 7-1 Three Rivers) 73-72 to move into a first place tie in the Three Rivers Conference on the road Thursday.

The Rebels (10-3 overall, 7-1 Three Rivers) led by eight with a minute left, but they struggled from the free throw line down the stretch. The win wasn’t clinched until PEM’s Nick Shanks had a potential game winning three-pointer rim out at the buzzer.

“I’ve never beaten PEM before (in seven years), so it was nice to get the monkey off my back,” Southland head coach Jon Thalberg said. “It was a nice boost for us to beat Caledonia and PEM in the same week because those are always two of the top teams in the conference. Our hard work is paying off.”

Southland senior Mike Goergen scored 25 points in the win.

Southland 37 36 — 73

PEM 34 38 — 72

Southland scoring: Mike Goergen, 25; Nick Schmitz, 18; Decker Bendtsen, 12; Luke Anderson, 12; Alex Ruechel, 4; Chris Wolff, 2; free throws: 61 percent (27-for-44)