MANKATO, Minn. --- Saturday's game between Minnesota State and Emporia State proved to be a back and forth affair, but it was ESU that was able to come away with the 51-49 win on a last-second field goal in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

With the loss Minnesota State ends its season with a 10-2 record, while Emporia State improves to 10-2 on the season. ESU will face the winner of the game between Henderson State and Sioux Falls in the second round.

The game featured 880 yards of total offense and nine turnovers. Minnesota State logged three interceptions, including one by senior Rumeal Harris who returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. Emporia State recovered three fumbles and picked off three interceptions, including one fumble that JP Lohrentz returned 46 yards for a touchdown. Lohrentz recorded all three of ESU's interceptions as well.

Midway through the second quarter the Mavericks enjoyed an 18-point lead at 28-10 after a touchdown catch from senior Bryce Duncan and a touchdown run from senior Chad Zastrow.

With six minutes to go in the second quarter Emporia State would go on a 35-0 run to take a 45-28 lead with 5:42 to go in the third quarter. Three of ESU's five touchdowns during that stretch came courtesy of tandem Brent Wilson and Kavaski Ervin, who connected with each other on touchdown passes from 43, 48 and 15 yards out.

The Mavericks would claw their way back into the game before the third quarter was out as junior Ricky Lloyd ran into the endzone from five yards out to make it 45-35 with 56 seconds left in the third.

Emporia State was able to increase its lead to 13 at 48-35 after Austin Mortin connected on a 41-yard field goal with 12:17 left in the game. MSU would answer right back on its next drive as senior Connor Cummins returned a short kickoff 47 yards to the ESU 24. Three plays later, Zastrow broke a 24-yard touchdown run to make it 48-42 in favor of ESU with 11:37 left on the clock.

The Mavericks would force an ESU three and out on its next drive and would take over on its own 21 yard line. Lloyd began the drive with a 41-yard pass to sophomore Ty Dennis to get inside ESU territory. Lloyd would then connect with Duncan on two passes, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the Mavericks a 49-48 lead with 8:27 left on the clock.

Both teams would fail to score on their next drives, but ESU was able to bring the ball down inside the MSU 10 yard line with less than five minutes to go, but an interception by senior Rob Myers in the endzone ended the threat.

With 4:26 to go in the game, MSU was looking to run out the clock but Lohrentz was able to pick off a pass from Lloyd at the MSU 43 with 1:51 left in the game.

The Hornets used up nearly all of the clock as they drove to the MSU 16 with four second s remaining before Morton connected on the game-winning 33-yard field goal to give ESU the 51-49 win.

Lloyd finished his game completing 8-of-10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, compared to one interception.

Zastrow notched a game-high 66 rushing yards and three touchdown carries for the Mavericks.

Junior Brent Esser led the Maverick receiving corps with 76 receiving yards, while Duncan tallied 57 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Wilson finished his game with 437 passing yards and five touchdowns, compared to three interceptions. Morris Williams II notched a game-high 159 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Kavaski caught six passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

The combined 100 points scored by the Mavericks and Hornets are the third-most in program history, trailing the record of 102 combined points set in 1993 against South Dakota State and in 2013 against St. Cloud State.


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