Omaha, Neb.  --- Minnesota State fell by a 5-2 margin at eighth-rated Nebraska-Omaha in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action at Nebraska Omaha Saturday.

The game stood 2-1 in UNO’s favor at the end of the first period. Freshman defenseman Andrej Sustr wired a shot past MSU netminder Phil Cook from the slot at 9:46, but the Mavericks tied it up at 16:00 when a shot from the point by senior defenseman Kurt Davis found the back of the net for a power play marker. UNO regained the lead at 18:27 after an open Zach Raubenheimer tapped the puck past Cook on the glove side.

It remained a one-goal lead for UNO after two periods of action with both teams lighting the lamp on one occasion. Rich Purslow gave UNO a two-goal cushion after he finished off a nice series of passes at the 9:35 mark. Sophomore forward Eriah Hayes scored his third goal of the year when he deflected a shot from Andrew Sackrison past UNO’s John Faulkner at 16:18 with the Mavericks on the power play.

A pair of even-strength goals by Nebraska Omaha, one by Johnnie Searfoss at 12:03 and an empty net tally by Matt Ambroz at 18:32 rounded out the scoring in the game.

MSU’s Cook, who started his fifth consecutive game, was credited with 34 saves in the game, while UNO’s Faulkner stopped 26 shots. UNO was zero-for-three in power play chances and MSU was two-for-four.

MSU freshman forward John McInnis drew an assist on the goal by Eriah Hayes for his first career point. And with his goal tonight, senior defenseman Kurt Davis has totaled 14-64-78 in 122 career games to move into a tie for ninth-place with Kyle Peto (MSU 2002-06) for career defensemen scoring at MSU.

Now 2-4-4 overall and 2-4-2 in WCHA action, Minnesota State continues league road action with a two-game set at the University of Denver next Friday and Saturday.

MSU head coach Troy Jutting comments following game.