Box Score MARSHALL, Minn. --- The #17 Minnesota State men's basketball team won its second straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season championship Saturday as it downed Southwest Minnesota State 78-66.

With their win, the Mavericks wrap up their regular season schedule with a 25-4 record, including a 19-3 NSIC record. With the loss, Southwest Minnesota State falls to 17-11 on the season, including a 14-8 mark in league action. Minnesota State has now won four NSIC regular season championships since joining the conference back in the 2008-09 season.

Senior Tanner Adler led the MSU offense with 22 points, including a 4-of-8 showing from downtown. Junior Assem Marei added 16 points and six rebounds, while junior Zach Monaghan notched 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Senior Gage Wooten posted 13 points and eight rebounds as well.

As a team, the Mavericks shot 28-of-56 (.500) from the field. MSU also controlled the boards, as it brought down 38 to the Mustangs 29.  

Four Mustangs posted at least 10 points, including William Giddings, who posted a team-high 17 points.

The first half remained close through the first 10 minutes as the Mavericks held a five point lead at 18-13. The Mavericks built upon their lead as the led by as many as 13 points before taking a 39-29 lead into the locker room.

Adler led the Mavericks in the first frame with 13 points, while Wooten and Marei each dropped in eight points.

As a unit, MSU shot 50% (16-of-32) from the field in the first half. The Mavericks also brought down 19 rebounds and passed out nine assists in the first session as well.

Giddings led the Mustang offense in the first half with 11 points.

The Mavericks continued to control the tempo throughout the second half as they led by more than six points during the entire stanza. The Mustangs managed to get within seven of the Mavericks at 68-61 with 4:04 left in the game, but MSU held firm as it finished the game with a 78-66 victory.

Minnesota State returns home Wednesday as it hosts Minnesota Crookston in the first round of the NSIC Tournament. The opening tip is set for 8 p.m.

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