Mankato, Minn. --- The ninth-ranked Minnesota State men’s basketball team sank six free throws in the final 10 seconds to ice an 86-81 victory over Cardinal Stritch in nonconference action.  The Wolves entered the game ranked #23 in the latest NAIA poll.

With the win, Minnesota State improved to 24-7 in the 2009 calendar year, the second-most wins for a Matt Margenthaler coached team in one year.

Junior guard Joe Drapcho scored a career-high 15 points for the Mavericks in the victory as he connected on 6-of-11 attempts from the floor. 

“I thought Joe played a good game tonight as did our bench,” said Margenthaler.  “We got great minutes out of our bench and they are what kept us in this game.”

“We won and that’s the bottom line.  That was a very good basketball team we played against and I think the winter break is coming at a good time for us.  We need to recharge and get ready for a grueling stretch of road games to start the New Year.”

The game opened with neither team finding much of an offensive rhythm throughout the first couple of minutes before Minnesota State used an 11-2 run to open a 33-22 edge with five minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the first half.   From that point on, Minnesota State would maintain at least a three-possession advantage, opening a 44-34 edge at the break.

Drapcho led the Mavericks in the first half with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while junior guard Marcus Hill added 10 points and three helpers.

Minnesota State led for the entire second half but the game got interesting in the final minutes.  With Minnesota State up nine with 3:10 remaining, the Wolves used three three-point field goals to make a game of it. 

CSU would trim the Maverick lead to one at 82-81 with three seconds remaining when Brandon D’Amico nailed a trey from the right corner.  Following a Cardinal Stritch timeout, Hill sank two free throws to push a three point lead before Drapcho stole the ball and sank two free throws to ice the win.

The Mavericks shot 51.6 percent from the floor in the win, while limiting CSU to 44.1 percent.  Minnesota State won the battle of the glass 41-33, while the Wolves forced the Mavericks into committing a season-high 15 turnovers.

Senior guard Jefferson Mason recorded his third double-double in as many games as he scored 15 points while grabbing 15 rebounds.  Hill led all Mavericks with 16 points, including an 8-of-8 effort from the stripe.

For the game, Minnesota State made 19-of-23 free throw attempts.

The Mavericks (10-, 3-0 NSIC) return to action after the holiday break as they travel to Minnesota, Crookston Jan. 2, at 6 p.m.

 To view the game stats, click HERE