Box Score

Mankato, Minn. ---  Five Minnesota State men’s basketball players reached double figures in the scoring column but it was not enough as Concordia dealt the Mavericks an 85-76 loss in front of 730 fans in the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University.

“Obviously we couldn’t get it done tonight on the defensive end of the court,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler.  “It’s disappointing because when we did play defense for a stretch in the second half, it created points on the offensive end.”

Minnesota State opened the game with a 21-12 lead with 9:32 remaining in the first half.  Concordia then answered with a 17-0 run over six minutes and 13 seconds to open a 29-21 advantage with just under four minutes remaining. 

Sophomore forward #Connor O’Brien# – who led all Mavericks with ten points and five rebounds in the first half – ended the CU run with a lay-up as both teams then traded baskets before the Golden Bears took a 35-27 lead into the break. 

The Mavericks shot 33.3 percent from the floor in the first half while outrebounding CU, 19-18, including 9-4 on the offensive end.  The two teams combined for 22 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

Concordia opened a double-digit lead to start the second half and pushed its lead to as many as 20 with 10:55 remaining before Minnesota State came storming back.

The Mavericks used a 14-3 run over 5:48 to cut the deficit to nine at 69-60 with a little over five minutes remaining.  Four Mavericks scored during the stretch led by freshman #Kelly Madison# who scored five points during the spurt. 

After that both teams traded baskets to close out the game.

O’Brien led MSU in scoring with a career-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go with eight rebounds and three blocks.  Madison added 14 while sophomore guard #Jimmy Whitehead# and senior guard #Stephen Kirschbaum# each scored 12.  Sophomore #Travis Meinders# rounded out the Mavericks in double-digits with 10 points. 

Minnesota State finished the night shooting 41.3 from the floor and 33.3 percent from beyond the three-point line.  The Mavericks hit on just 66.7 percent of their free throw opportunities, including a 15-of-23 effort in the second half. 

Concordia won the battle of the glass, 38-34, despite being outrebounded 15-12 on the offensive end.  The Mavericks finished the night with just 12 turnovers – only two of which came in the second half – while forcing 18 Concordia miscues, which was a season-high.  MSU turned those 18 turnovers into 22 points.

Minnesota State (2-5, 1-2 NSIC) entertains St. Cloud State tomorrow evening at 8 p.m.

Travis Meinders talks about the loss