Box Score FAYETTE, Iowa --- The seventh-ranked Minnesota State men’s basketball team earned a 79-55 victory over Upper Iowa Friday evening in Dorman Gymnasium in downtown Fayette.
The win – Minnesota State’s 13th of the season against zero losses – established a new Maverick record for consecutive wins to start the season.
Neither team established much in terms of a lead early in the game as the Peacocks opened a 15-14 lead at the 10:42 mark of the first half. Senior center Travis Nelson pounded home a two-handed dunk to give the Mavericks a lead at 16-15 – one it would not relinquish throughout the game.
The dunk by Nelson sparked a 12-4 run by the Maverick which was highlighted when junior guard Cameron Hodges took a drove home a one-handed dunk in transition off a Maverick steal by junior Taylor Morrow. The Mavericks continued its up-tempo pace for the remainder of the half, as they owned a 39-30 advantage at the break.
“Once we picked up the defensive pressure midway through the first half, it resulted in points,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler. “I was proud of the way our guys battled tonight. Now we need to refocus and prepare for tomorrow’s game against Winona State.”
The second half played much like the end of the first half as Minnesota State dictated the play. The final basket of the game – a put-back dunk by senior forward Curt Greeley gave Minnesota State a 26-point lead, its largest of the game, which also ended up being the margin of victory.
Nelson finished the game with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting to lead the Mavericks. Senior guard Jefferson Mason added 14 points and nine rebounds while senior Jermain Davis and Greeley each added 10. Greeley had his best game of the season statistically as he finished with a season-high 10 points to go with his seven rebounds which tied his season-high.
The Mavericks finished shooting 47.5 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from the free throw line. Minnesota State owned the battle of the boards, hauling in 42 rebounds (15 of which were offensive) compared to UIU’s 26 rebounds (five of which were offensive). The Mavericks scored 19 second chance points compared to the Peacock’s two.
The Minnesota State defense forced 19 turnovers, turning them into 17 points and scored 50 points in the paint .
The Mavericks (13-0, 6-0 NSIC) travel to Winona State Saturday evening for a 7 p.m., contest with the Warriors.
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