Box Score Bismarck, N.D. --- The #7 Minnesota State men’s basketball team recovered quickly after its second loss of the season as it began its two-game road swing with an 81-73 win over the University of Mary Friday evening.

With the win MSU improved to 17-2 on the season with a 13-2 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Marauders fell to 3-16, with a 2-14 league record.

The score remained close heading into the locker room as the Mavericks held a three-point lead at 39-36. Halfway through the second session, MSU built an 11-point lead at 58-47 and led by as much as 18 before coming away with the 81-73 win.

The Mavericks were spurred on by the solid play of senior Jarvis Williams and junior Jimmy Whitehead who combined for 27 of MSU’s 42 points in the second half. Williams tallied 15 second half points to bring his total to a game-high 21, while Whitehead posted all of his 12 points in the second frame.

Sophomore Zach Monaghan added 14 points and six helpers, while sophomore Assem Marei added 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Mavericks controlled the battle of the boards as they posted 38 to the Marauders 29. Junior Gage Wooten posted a career-high 12 rebounds, while Williams and Marei posted eight rebounds each.

Josh Turner led the Marauders with 20 points, while Marc Musungayi tallied 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The first half of the contest began and finished quite differently with the Mavericks controlling the tempo early on, before the Marauders worked their way back into it. MSU led by as many as nine points in the first half as it held the lead through the first 14 minutes of action.

U-Mary took its first lead of the game at 28-27 with 5:49 left in the opening frame. The lead would change hands five more times, with the Mavericks taking a 39-36 lead into the locker room.

Monaghan led all scorers in the first half with 11 points, while Wooten added seven points and six rebounds. As a team, MSU connected on 13-of-30 (43.3%) shots in the first half, while bringing down 21 rebounds.

Turner led the Marauders in the opening frame with nine points. As a team, U-Mary shot 46.9% (15-of-32) from the field in the first half.

MSU wraps up its road trip Saturday as it takes on the Minot State Beavers. The opening tip is set for 6 p.m.
                                                                             
                                                                                              -30-