SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -  The Minnesota State men's basketball team upended 15^th-ranked Winona State, 81-74, Sunday afternoon in front of 617 fans in the Sioux Falls Arena.

The contest concluded action in the 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference HoopsFest.  The games – which do not count toward each team's league record – do count toward the all-important NCAA Central Regional Rankings.

"This was a great win for our program," said head coach Matt Margnethaler.  "We struggled at times tonight but we battled and prevailed.  I am proud of our effort.  We have to get better, but tonight's win was a big step in the right direction for this program."

The first half was a see-saw battle as neither team could establish much of a lead. The Mavericks finished the first half shooting 35.5 percent from the floor (11-of-31) as Winona State opened a 33-31 lead at the break.  It marked the first time this season that Minnesota State has trailed at the half.  The two teams combined for eight lead changes and two ties in the first half.

The second half played much like the first half as neither team established a significant lead.  The first 11-plus minutes of the second half included eight ties and 13 lead changes as Winona State tied the game at 61 when Ben Fisher converted a lay-up.

On MSU's ensuing basket, senior center Travis Nelson scored on a lay-up to give MSU a 63-61 advantage and the lead for the final time in the game.

Winona State would pull within three at 77-74 with 29 seconds remaining before seniors Jermain Davis and Jefferson Mason connected on free throws to ice the win.

Mason finished the game with 18 points and 13 rebounds, recording his third double-double of the season.  He finished the night shooting 5-of-8 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the free throw line and also passed out five assists, blocked two shots and had a steal.

Nelson added a team-high 19 points while Davis added 17.  The Mavericks finished the game shooting 48.2 percent from the floor and 76.7 percent from the free throw line (23-of-30). 

MSU won the battle of the board, 36-32 and scored 15 second chance points on 11 offensive rebounds.

The Mavericks (5-0) host Bethany Lutheran College Tuesday night at seven to open a five-game homestand that lasts the month of December.