MARYVILLE, Mo. --- It proved to be a battle the whole way Tuesday evening, but Minnesota State fell to #6 Northern State by the score of 90-83 in the NCAA Central Region Championship.

With the loss, MSU finishes its season with a 24-10 record. With the win, NSU improves to 34-3 and will now go on to the NCAA Elite Eight.

The first half saw a total of seven lead changes as neither built a lead larger than eight points. With 11:12 to go in the half a layup from Logan Doyle put the Wolves up by eight at 20-12. Doyle's layup capped a 12-2 run during the previous 3:45.

Trailing by eight, the Mavericks chipped away at the Northern State lead and eventually reclaimed the lead at 38-37 with 2:27 remaining. Junior Carlos Anderson recorded 11 of MSU's 26 points during that stretch. The Wolves were then able to finish the half outscoring the Mavericks 6-4 to take a 43-42 lead into the locker room.

Anderson led the Maverick offense in the first half with 14 points, while senior Chris Kendrix added six points and five rebounds. As a team, MSU shot 45.2% from the field, to go along with an 11-of-16 (.688) showing from the free throw line. MSU also enjoyed a 22-10 advantage in rebounds.

Ian Smith led the NSU offense in the first half with 13 points, while Darin Peterka added nine points and three rebounds. As a team, Northern State shot 60.7% from the field in the opening stanza.

The second half saw neither team lead by more than four points through the first 13 minutes. A pair of free throws from Anderson knotted up the score at 64-64 with 8:33 left in the game and it still appeared to be anyone's game.

Over the next seven minutes, Northern State was able to build an eight-point lead at 84-76 with just 0:56 to go in the game. A basket from senior Charlie Brown and Kendrix during the next 16 seconds got the Mavericks back within four of the Wolves at 84-80, but they would get no closer as NSU finished the game shooting 6-of-8 from the free throw line to lock down the 90-83 win.

Anderson led the Maverick offense with 22 points, while Kendrix notched his seventh double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Brown added 14 points and sophomore Kevin Krieger tallied 13 points as well. Anderson, Brown and Kendrix were all named to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team.

As a team, MSU shot 50% from the field and held a 34-30 advantage in rebounds.

Smith finished with a game-high 22 points for the Wolves, while Doyle added 21 points and seven rebounds. As a team, NSU shot 58.8% from the field, including a 7-of-14 (.500) showing from behind the arc. 


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