MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team received several key performances Saturday afternoon in Taylor Center as the Mavericks bested Concordia-St. Paul 86-59.

With the win, MSU improves to 9-2 with a 4-1 NSIC record. With the loss, the Golden Bears fall to 2-8, including a 0-5 league record.

The Mavericks were led by a trio of players Saturday, including senior Jalen Pendleton, who recorded the program's first ever triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. His 12 assists and 10 rebounds were both season-highs.

MSU also saw a pair of players reach the 20-point plateau as senior Snoop Viser notched 20 points, while freshman Joey Witthus added 24 points, all of which came from an 8-of-13 showing from behind the arc. Witthus' eight three pointers were just two  behind the team's single-game record of 10 set by Brian Koepnick in 1988.  

As a team, MSU shot 51.6% from the field, to go with a 17-of-36 (.472) showing from three point land. MSU's 17 three point field goals tied an MSU single-game record set during the 2013-14 season. The Mavericks also passed out 27 assists and hauled in 38 rebounds.

CSP was led by Bryndan Matthews who tallied 14 points. Shea Mandli added 13 points and nine rebounds as well.

MSU led throughout the entire first half as it led by as many as 12 points. The Mavericks opened the game contest scoring the first 10 points, but the Golden Bears were able to get back within one of MSU at 16-15 with 8:58 to go in the half.

MSU would go on to outscore CSP 23-15 through the final nine minutes of the first half to take a 39-30 lead into the locker room.

Viser led all scorers in the first half with 16 points. Pendleton added six assists and four rebounds for the Mavericks in the opening stanza as well.

As a team, MSU shot 45.5% from the field in the first half, to go with an 8-of-17 (.471) showing from long range. The Mavericks also hauled in 19 rebounds and passed out 12 assists.

The Golden Bears managed to get back within two points of the Mavericks at 39-37, but it would be all MSU after that as the Mavericks went out to outscore the Golden Bears 47-22 the rest of the way as the Mavericks locked down the 86-59 win.

The Mavericks return to action on Saturday, Jan. 2, as they take on St. Cloud State on the road. The opening tip is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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