Box Score MANKATO, Minn. --- The 22nd-ranked Minnesota State men’s basketball team outscored Bethany Lutheran College 70-28 in the games final 23 minutes and 56 seconds en route to a 110-65 victory Tuesday evening in front of 1,123 fans in the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University.
Bethany opened the game on a 12-2 run and maintained a lead for much of the first half.
The Mavericks tied the game at 37 when senior wing Jefferson Mason took a steal and went coast-to-coast for a two-handed dunk. On the ensuing possession, Minnesota State took its first lead since 2-0 when Hill drained a three pointer from the top of the key, giving MSU a 40-37 advantage a lead it would not relinquish.
Minnesota State finished the first half with an 11-3 run capped by a three point basket from Drapcho in the left wing as time expired.
“I was very disappointed with the way we started tonight,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler. “We have to play a lot better if we expect to win Saturday afternoon against a very good Southwest Minnesota State team.”
The Mavericks finished first half shooting 51.6 percent from the floor including a scorching 61.5 percent from beyond the three-point line. Hill led the Mavericks in the first half with 12 points, all of which came from outside the three-point line. Drapcho and Mason each added 10 points in the games first 20 minutes.
The Mavericks continued the pressure in the second half as it maintained a double-digit lead for the games final 20 minutes.
Senior center Travis Nelson recorded his second double-double in as many games as he finished with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 10 rebounds. Mason and Hill each added 19 points in the win.
Drapcho scored a career-high 13 points in the win on 4-of-8 shooting including 3-of-4 from outside while senior guard Jermain Davis and sophomore post Mike Bisenius each added 10 points.
The Maverick finished the game shooting 56.7 percent from the floor and 50 percent from outside the three-point line. Minnesota State shot 82.1 percent from the free throw line, hitting on 23 of its 28 attempts.
Bethany Lutheran finished the game shooting 38.1 percent from the floor, 42.3 percent from the three-point line and connected on all six of its free throw chances.
The Mavericks won the battle of the boards, 45-27, including 11-5 on the offensive end.
Minnesota State’s bench finished the game outscoring BLC’s, 66-4. MSU also outscored the Vikings in the paint, 50-16.
Minnesota State (6-0) hosts 11th-ranked Southwest Minnesota State Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
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