Box Score Springfield, Mass. ---- The Minnesota State men’s basketball team’s run through the NCAA tournament and to the final four came to an end Thursday night as the eighth-ranked Mavericks suffered an 81-74 loss to second-ranked Bellarmine in the national semifinals.

The loss wasn’t without a fight however, as the Maverick senior class – a group which won 101 of the 127 games it played in – finished with 69 of the team’s 74 points. Senior guards Jefferson Mason and Cameron Hodges led the way for MSU with 24 points apiece. The 24 points by Hodges established a new career-high, while the 24 points by Mason was coupled with 14 rebounds as he finished with his 11th double-double of the year and the 23rd of his career.

“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of young men,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler, whose squad finished with 28 wins on the year, tying a school record. “From where we started in the beginning of the year to now is unbelievable. I can’t say enough about the guys in that locker room.”

Senior guard Marcus Hill opened the contest where he left off yesterday as he scored seven of MSU’s first 13 points, connecting on all three shots he took – including a three – as MSU opened a 13-11 lead at the first media timeout.

Bellarmine withstood the early MSU onslaught as it used a 7-2 run to open an 18-15 lead with 11:37 remaining in the half.

Both teams settled into their offense as the ensuing five minutes as the game featured five lead changes, highlighted by spin-o-rama by Mason as the game was tied at 24 at the under-eight media timeout.

The back-and-fourth pace continued as MSU took a 30-29 lead when Hodges hit a jumper from the right wing, giving MSU a 30-29 lead with 3:32 remaining in the half.

Both teams would continue to trade baskets as the game entered the half, tied at 38. It marked only the third time this year MSU was tied after 20 minutes play.

Hodges led all scorers in the first half with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-2 from downtown. Mason added 11 first half points to go with six rebounds.

MSU raced to a 43-38 to start the second half as Hill drained a jumper from the top of the key and Hodges added a three from the right wing.

After Bellarmine’s Jeremy Kendle added a three, MSU senior guard
Taylor Morrow would answer with a long-range shot of his own, pushing the Maverick edge to 46-40, its largest of the night.

Kendle wouldn’t be outdone however as he added a three from the left wing cutting the score to 46-43 with 17:12 remaining.

MSU continued its offensive outburst in the second half as Mason threw down a two-handed dunk to open a 48-43 advantage.

After Bellarmine went on a mini 4-0 run, Morrow answered with another three – this time from deep in the right corner – to push a four-point advantage with 15:03 remaining in the game.

Both teams continued to trade baskets before Chris Dowe drained a three to give Bellarmine its first lead of the second half at 56-54. On MSU’s ensuing possession, Mason drove to the paint and knocked down a spinning layup before being fouled. He would knock down the free throw as MSU regained a two-point lead at 59-57.

Both teams traded three-point field goals before Justin Benedetti converted a traditional three-point play to give the Knights a 63-62 lead.

Kendel drained a three to give BU a lead at 66-64 before MSU answered two possessions later as Mason secured his 11th double-double of the season with an acrobatic tip-in to tie the game at 66.

Braydon Hobbs answered with a three and from that point on, Bellarmine controlled the pace en route to a berth to the national championship game.

Hodges finished the night shooting 9-of-16 from the floor while hitting all five of his three-point field goal attempts to go with seven rebounds.

Mason finished 7-fo-11 from the floor and 10-of-10 from the free throw line while hauling in 14 rebounds, three of which were offensive.

Hill finished the night with 13 points and seven assists in just under 40 minutes played.

Bellarmine was led by Kendle’s 18 points.

Minnesota State finishes the season with a 28-5 record.

To view the postgame stats, click HERE

Watch the postgame press conference: