Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team (23-4) continues play in the NSIC Tournament Saturday as it hosts the MSU Moorhead Dragons (19-10) at Taylor Center. The opening tip is set for 2 p.m.

What Just Happened: The #7 Minnesota State men’s basketball team opened the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament in decisive fashion as it defeated the Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles 86-60.

With the win, MSU improved to 23-4 on the season. With the loss UMC falls to 4-23.

The Mavericks controlled the pace of the game throughout the second half as they led the Golden Eagles by as much 32 points. MSU began the second half with an 11-point lead and would maintain the double digit lead through the final 20 minutes as it closed out the game with an 86-60 win.

Sophomore Zach Monaghan led all-scorers with 18 points, while junior Jimmy Whitehead tallied 16 points, including a 4-of-4 showing from the line. Senior Jarvis Williams added 10 points and three assists, while junior Connor O'Brien posted five points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 28-of-55 (.509) from the field, including a 10-of-18 (.556) showing from three-point land. MSU also shot 83.3% (20-of-24) from the charity stripe.

Ashton Harrell led the Golden Eagles with 13 points, while Broderick Schmidt tallied a team-high eight rebounds.

The first half began with some close action as the Mavericks led by five, 16-11 with 11:53 left in the first half. MSU would finish the first half on a 27-21 run to take a 43-32 lead into the locker room.

Monaghan led the Mavericks in the first half with 12 points, while sophomore Jaymeson Moten tallied nine points as he connected on three shots from long range.

As a team, the Mavericks connected on 5-of-10 (.500) from beyond the arc in the first half. MSU put in a perfect showing from the free throw line in the opening stanza as it sank all 14 free throw attempts.

Harrell led the Golden Eagles with nine points in the first half, while Schmidt posted five points and seven rebounds.

Minnesota State History: The 2012-13 season marks the 91st campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,208-845 (.588) in 2,053 games since the program’s inception in the 1920-21 season. MSU capped its 33rd and final season as a member of the NCC in 2008 and owned a 283-267 (.515) record in 550 league games played. In the NSIC, MSU owns a 74-32 (.698) record to go with three regular-season championships.

The Mavericks have made seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, going 12-9 (.571) in those trips.

A Little About MSU Moorhead: The Dragons enter the Taylor Center with an overall record of 19-10. MSU Moorhead earned the No. 4 seed in the north division and defeated Southwest Minnesota State 87-78 last Wednesday.
    
Anthony Tucker is MSU Moorhead's leading scorer on the season averaging 19.4 ppg. Alex Novak, who is averaging 13.4 ppg, is also leading MSUM in rebounds averaging 9.7 rebounds per game.
    
As a team, the Dragons are shooting 48.2% from the field and have connected on 238 shots from beyond the arc.  
    
Chad Walthall is in his third season as the head coach of the Dragons and owns a 54-32 record.

Series History: All-time, the Mavericks are 59-28 against the Dragons including a mark of 7-1 under head coach Matt Margenthaler.

In their previous meeting this season, the Mavericks defeated the Dragons 87-64 at Taylor Center. Four Mavericks tallied at least 10 points in the win including senior Jarvis Williams, who led the Mavericks with 21 points. Sophomore Zach Monaghan tallied 13 points and six assists, while junior Connor O'Brien added 10 points and eight rebounds.

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