MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team won its fifth straight game Saturday evening, and fourth at Taylor Center this season, as it defeated Grand View University 83-65

With the win, MSU improves to 5-1 on the season, including a perfect 4-0 record at Taylor Center.

The Mavericks saw four players net at least 11 points in the victory, including junior Mike Busack who tallied a team-leading 18 points, marking the fifth time this season he has scored at least 12 points in a game this season. Busack also hauled in six rebounds, while junior Jon Fuqua notched a team-high eight rebounds to go with 14 points.

Junior Jalen Pendleton added 14 points of his own, while sophomore TJ Lake tallied 11 points, including a 3-of-6 showing from behind the arc. Fuqua also passed out a game-high five assists.

As a team, MSU shot 49.2% form the field, while it outrebounded GVU 44-31. The Mavericks also passed out 17 assists and tallied four blocks.

Corey Evers led the Viking offense with 18 points, while Nick Lyon notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The first half saw neither team lead by more than eight points as the Mavericks carried a 40-33 lead into halftime. With 8:01 to go in the half, both teams were knotted up at 24 apiece. MSU outscored the Vikings 16-9 through the final eight minutes, including five points from Lake, before both teams went into the locker room with Minnesota State leading 40-33.

Lake led all scorers in the first half with 11 points, while Fuqua added eight points and four rebounds.

As a team, shot 42.1% from the field, to go along with 23 rebounds and five steals in the first half.

Jjuan Hadnot led GVU with 10 points in the first half, while Nick Lyon hauled in seven rebounds.

The second half saw the Mavericks lead throughout as the Vikings only managed to get within four points on three occasions but they could get no closer as the Mavericks outscored the Vikings 43-32 in the second half to lock down the 83-65 win.

The Mavericks open conference action on the road this Friday as they take on #6 Augustana. The opening tip is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

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