Box Score
Mankato, Minn. --- The 20^th-ranked Minnesota State men’s basketball team improved to 6-0 on the young season as it downed 18^th-ranked Winona State, 78-70, in front of a season-high 2,142 fans in the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University.

The Mavericks were led by senior guard Jarvis Williams and sophomore guard Zach Monaghan who each scored 17 points. 

“I couldn’t be prouder of our guys,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler.  “We showed some poise in the second half during a dry spell and battled through it.  This was a great win but we have to get better tomorrow against Upper Iowa.”

The Mavericks led for all but 31 seconds in the first half as it took a 35-32 lead into the break.  Sophomore forward Zach Romashko led the Mavericks in scoring with nine points as he drilled all three of his three-point opportunities.

The second half played just as close to the vest as the final 20 minutes featured six lead changes and four ties. 

The Mavericks opened their biggest lead of the game at the 10:51 mark when they lead opened an eight-point lead after junior forward Connor O’Brien threw down a nifty pass from sophomore point Monaghan, giving MSU a 59-51 advantage.  After trading baskets, the Warriors used a quick 8-0 run over 1:17 to tie the game at 61 with 7:52 remaining.
Winona State took a 64-61 lead before Williams hit the back end of two free throws and then threw down a pretty dunk in transition to tie the game at 64.

After forcing the Warriors to come up empty on the defensive end, the Mavericks junior guard Jimmy Whitehead hit two free throws before Monaghan converted a lay-up.  The MSU defensive pressure continued as it forced another turnover prompting a Warrior timeout. 

O’Brien then converted a putback to extend the lead to six before Winona State end the bleeding with a basket in the paint.  On MSU’s ensuing possession Whitehead milked the shot clock into its final seconds before hitting a turnaround jumper in the paint.

From that point on, the Mavericks maintained a two-possession lead as it closed out the game by sinking four free throws in the final minute. 

Monaghan finished his night shooting 4-of-14 from the floor but hit on all six of his free throw attempts as he passed out six helpers.  Williams was 6-of-14 and from the floor and hauled in ten rebounds to record his second double-double of the year. 

Sophomore center Assem Marei added nine points and ten rebounds while O’Brien had ten points and seven rebounds.
       
The Mavericks shot 40.9 percent from the floor in the win and outrebounded WSU, 43-35, including 19-12 on the offensive end.  MSU forced 13 turnovers and converted them into 16 points.
           
Minnesota State (6-0, 2-0 NSIC) closes its homestand Saturday as it hosts Upper Iowa.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.