Mankato, Minn. --- The #7 Minnesota State men's basketball team (25-4) wraps up play in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Saturday as it takes on Bemidji State in the finals of the NSIC Tournament. The opening tip is set for 5:30 p.m.

What Just Happened: Behind some pinpoint shooting Saturday evening, the No. 7 Minnesota State men’s basketball team bested the Augustana Vikings 87-66 to advance to the finals NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament.

With the win, MSU improves to 25-4 on the season. With the loss, Augustana fell to 21-8 on the season.

The Mavericks proved to be sharpshooters all evening long as they connected on 36-of-56 (.643) of their shots from the field. Senior Jarvis Williams paced the MSU offense with 20 points, while shooting 9-of-10 (.900) from the field, to go along with six rebounds. His 20 points marks the eighth time this season that Williams has dropped in at least 20 points in a game.

Junior Connor O'Brien and sophomore Assem Marei each added 15 points, with Marei adding six rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Sophomore Zach Monaghan added 16 points, five of which came from a 5-of-5 showing from the free throw line. Junior Gage Wooten tallied eight points and a career-high five assists as well.

Minnesota State entered the second half with a 10-point lead at 44-34. The Vikings managed to pull within five points on four separate occasions, but that was as close as Augustana would get as the Mavericks outscored the Vikings 43-32 in the second frame to win the game 87-66.

Daniel Jansen led the Vikings with 17 points, while Cameron McCaffrey posted 15 points and six assists.

Both teams opened the game quickly as MSU and Augustana found themselves knotted up at 12 with 16:17 left in the first half. The Mavericks would outscore the Vikings 32-22 through the rest of the first half as the Mavericks entered the locker room with a 10-point edge at 44-34.

The Mavericks finished the first half with a 44-34 advantage as five players posted at least five points in the opening frame. Williams led MSU with 12 first-half points, while Marei tallied eight points and four rebounds. Monaghan added seven points, including a pair of three point shots.

As a team, MSU connected on 20-of-34 (.588) shots from the field in the first half, including a 3-of-6 (.500) showing from beyond the arc. The Mavericks also passed out 10 first-half assists and forced seven Augustana turnovers.

Daniel Jansen led the Vikings in the first half with 13 points, while Cameron McCaffrey added six points and three assists.

Minnesota State History: The 2012-13 season marks the 91st campaign as a varsity sport for Minnesota State men’s basketball. The Mavericks are 1,210-845 (.588) in 2,055 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 Bemidji State: The Beavers enter the final round of the NSIC Tournament the owners of an 18-11 record, including wins over Wayne State (71-54), Winona State (74-72) and Upper Iowa (64-61) in the first three rounds of the NSIC Tournament.
    
The Beavers are led by Dermaine Crockrell, who is averaging 14.7 points per game. Mason Walters is averaging 13.9 points and a team leading 7.8 rebounds per game.

As a team, Augustana is averaging 70.3 points  per game, while bringing down 34.1 rebounds per contest.

The Vikings are coached by Mike Boschee, who is in his first season at the helm of the Bemidji State men's basketball program.

Series History:  Minnesota State is 66-34 all-time against Bemidji State, including an 0-1 record this season. The Mavericks are 5-3 against the Beavers under MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler. In their earlier meeting this season, the Mavericks were led by junior Gage Wooten who tallied 19 points. Junior Connor O'Brien notched a double double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

To view the rest of the release click HERE