Game Stats

Minneapolis, Minn. ---  Minnesota State sophomore forward #Zach Romashko# scored a team-high 18 points but it wasn’t enough as the Mavericks dropped their exhibition opener to Minnesota, 81-56, Thursday evening in front of 8,907 fans in Williams Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

MSU was held to just 35.2 percent shooting for the game while the Golden Gophers hit on 63.2 percent of its shots.

Romashko finished the night shooting 7-of-11 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from downtown.

“Games like this will do nothing but help us get better,” said Margenthaler.  “We got great looks in the first half but our shots just didn’t fall.  I liked how aggressive we were on the offensive glass tonight, which was good to see.”

The Golden Gophers opened the game hitting on 13 of their first 18 shots en route to taking a 27-10 lead at the under eight media timeout.  Half of Minnesota State’s points to start the game came from Romashko, who drilled a 15-footer from the right wing and a three-pointer from the left wing midway through the opening half.

Romashko drilled another three out of the media timeout to end the Maverick drought, which had lasted over four minutes.  Junior forward #Connor O’Brien# sank a pair of free throws to cut the Minnesota lead to 27-15 before Minnesota’s Maverick Ahanmisi drilled a three to end the MSU mini-run. 

After both teams came up empty on their next possessions, Romashko continued to stay hot as he drilled a turnaround jumper, cutting the lead to 30-17.  The Gophers then closed the first half with a 12-5 run opening a 42-22 halftime advantage.

Romashko led all Mavericks in scoring in the first half with 10 points as the Maverick bench outscored the starters, 15-7 in the first half.  The Mavericks were held to just 22 percent shooting in the first half.

The second half played much like the first as Minnesota maintained a double-digit lead throughout.

O’Brien added 13 points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-3 from downtown, to round out the Mavericks in double figures.

The Mavericks were outrebounded in the loss 36-30, but won the battle on the offensive glass, 14-9.

Minnesota State concludes the exhibition season Sunday afternoon at Iowa State.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m., in Hilton Coliseum. 

Listen to coach Margenthaler postgame HERE