Box Score Mankato, Minn.— Senior guard Jefferson Mason scored a season-high 24 points to lead Minnesota State to a 83-67 victory over Augustana in front of 1,019 fans in the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University.
“Anytime you can get a win in this league it is a good thing,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler. “We have a lot to work on, but for now, we are going to enjoy this victory. It was good to see our bench continue to contribute tonight.”
Both teams owned leads early in the game with the Mavericks opening the game with a 6-2 advantage only to have Augustana answer and open a 15-12 edge with nine minutes and 30 seconds left in the first half.
The Mavericks then rattled off a 12-2 run to open a 24-17 edge and never look back. The run was sparked by senior guard Cameron Hodges who drained a three and hit a jumper to start the spurt.
Augustana ended the run with three-pointer by sophomore guard Cameron McCaffrey to cut the Maverick lead to 24-20. Both teams then traded buckets as MSU opened a 29-24 halftime advantage.
Hodges led all players in the first half with 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Neither team shot the ball well in the opening 20 minutes as Augustana hit on 37 percent of its attempts from floor while MSU knocked down just 34.6.
Minnesota State would open the second half on a 15-5 run behind seven points from senior guard Taylor Morrow. Of those seven points, Morrow converted six of them in the paint and four of them in transition.
The Maverick lead grew to as many as 18 when senior guard Joe Drapcho converted a traditional three-point play with 14:36 remaining. From that point on, the Mavericks held onto a comfortable lead.
Mason finished the night 8-of-12 from the floor – and 8-of-13 from the free throw line- en route to his 24 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds. It marked the first 20-point game of the season for MSU. Mason also passed out six assists, a total which matched his career-high.
Hodges added 15 points and seven rebounds while junior Stephen Kirschbaum scored 12 points off the bench, hitting on all four of his field goals, including three from downtown.
The Mavericks shot a scorching 75 percent in the second half, hitting on 18-of-24 shots to finish the game with a shooting percentage of 54 percent. Augustana finished the night shooting 40.4 percent from the floor.
The Vikings – who were led in scoring by McCaffrey’s 18 points – finished the night outrebounding MSU, 31-29, including 12-10 on the offensive end.
Minnesota State (6-0, 2-0 NSIC) travels to Concordia next Friday to open a four-game road trip which will close out the 2010 calendar year. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.
Game stats can be found HERE
Coach Margenthaler post game's radio show can be found HERE
Jefferson Mason discusses win over Augustana:
