Box Score
Moorhead, Minn. – Minnesota State Moorhead’s DJ Hamilton hit the back-end of a two-shot free throw attempt to break a 65-65 tie and propel the 21st-ranked Dragons to a 66-65 victory Monday evening in Moorhead.
“This was a tough loss for us tonight,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler. “We had an opportunity to win the game and we battled. I am very proud of our guys and their effort tonight.”
Minnesota State opened with a strong showing in the first half, scoring 37 points on 43.8 percent shooting from the floor. The Mavericks, who lead by as many as seven in the first half, used a 9-3 run to close the final three minutes and 30 seconds of the first half, a run in which they did not allow a field goal by the Dragons.
Sophomore guard Jimmy Whitehead led MSU in scoring in the first half with nine points while sophomore guard Travis Meinders and senior guard Stephen Kirschbaum each scored six points. Freshman post #TJ Okafor# gathered a team-high four rebounds in the first half.
The Mavericks led for much of the second half, opening a lead as big as 11 with 17:43 remaining before MSU Moorhead would claw back into the game and eventually take its first lead of the second half at 58-57 with 6:14 remaining. The Dragons would push its run to 6-0, opening a 62-57 lead with 4:21 remaining, prompting an MSU timeout.
Minnesota State responded with a 4-0 run thanks in part to a Whitehead lay-up and a pair of free throws by sophomore guard #Alex Hanks# to cut the score to 62-61.
Following a technical foul on the Maverick bench, which resulted in a free throw and a jumper for the Dragons and a 65-61 lead, MSU used back-to-back jumpers by sophomore forward Connor O’Brien to tie the game at 65, and setting up Hamilton’s heroics.
The Mavericks saw four players in double figures led by Whitehead with 13 points. Kirschbaum added 11 and Meinders and freshman post Zach Romashko each had ten. Hanks led MSU with five rebounds while Whitehead passed out a team-high four assists.
Minnesota State finished shooting 39.1 percent from the free throw line and were outrebounded 33-32.
The Mavericks (3-8, 2-5 NSIC) return to action tomorrow evening at Minnesota, Crookston. Tip is set for 8 p.m.
