MANKATO, Minn. --- It went down to the wire Saturday evening in Taylor Center, but it was Minnesota State that came away with the 78-77 win over the Winona State Warriors.
With the win, the Mavericks improve to 8-2 on the season, including a 3-1 NSIC record. MSU is now 6-0 in Taylor Center this season. With the loss, the Warriors fall to 4-5, including a 3-2 conference record.
The first half saw Minnesota State connect on 14-of-28 shots from the field as it carried a 40-25 lead into the locker room. MSU built an 11-point lead at 18-7 with 9:49 to go in the opening stanza, but the Warriors were able to get back within 10 points on a few occasions. The Mavericks went on to outscore the Warriors 22-18 through the final 10 minutes of the half.
Junior
Mike Busack led all scorers in the first half with 12 points, while sophomore
TJ Lake added 10 points. Senior
Jalen Pendleton notched nine points and four assists as well.
Kyle Bauman and Riley Bambenek each tallied eight points in the first half for the Warriors. As a unit, WSU shot just 28.1% from the field in the opening session.
The second half saw the Mavericks build a 20-point lead on two occasions, but the Warriors would not be held back as they pulled within nine points of the Mavericks at 64-55 with 6:12 left in the game. The Warriors got within three points of the Mavericks at 75-72 with 1:12 remaining after a three from Bambeneck.
Trailing by three with 26 second left, the Warriors were forced to foul as Pendleton went to the line. Pendleton hit one of his two shots from the line to put the Mavericks back up by four, but a pair of free throws from WSU's Corey Jeffs brought Winona State within two at 76-74 with nine seconds left.
WSU, once again forced to foul, sent Pendleton to the line with seven seconds left who proceeded to hit both of his free throws to put MSU up by four a 78-74. Josh Mongan hit a three point shot with less than a second left but the Warriors ran out of time as the Mavericks held on for the 78-77 win.
Pendleton finished his night with a team-high 19 points and seven assists. He also connected on 12-of-14 attempts from the charity strip. Lake added 17 points off the bench, while Busack notched 14 points and a team-leading seven rebounds.
Bambenek finished with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds, while Bauman added 18 points and seven rebounds.
The Mavericks wrap up their homestand on Saturday, Dec. 19, as they host the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
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