MANKATO, Minn. --- Both teams shot lights out in Taylor Center Tuesday evening but it was Minnesota State that would come away with the 93-80 win over Concordia-St. Paul.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 19-5 on the season, including a 14-4 NSIC record. With the loss, the Golden Bears fall to 15-9, with an 11-7 league record. The Mavericks are now 11-0 in Taylor Center this season.

The first half saw both team shoot better than 60% from the field as the Mavericks carried a 51-43 lead into the locker room. MSU never trailed through the first 20 minutes of the game, as it led by as many as 15 points. The Golden Bears managed to edge closer to the Mavericks in the final seconds of the half as Nuni Omot tallied two three point shots in the final 41 seconds to bring the Golden Bears within eight of the Mavericks heading into halftime.

Senior Zach Monaghan led all scorers in the first half with 19 points, as he connected on 8-of-10 shots from the field, to go along with six helpers. Senior Assem Marei added 13 points on a 5-of-5 showing from the field, while senior Connor Miller tallied seven points and five rebounds.

As a unit, the Mavericks shot 64.5% (20-of-31) from the field, including a 7-of-11 performance from behind the arc. MSU also hauled in 13 rebounds and passed out 11 assists.

Omot led the Golden Bears with 12 points in the first half, while Cole Olstad tallied 11 points as he went 3-of-3 from both the field and the line.

CU shot 61.5% from the field in the first half, including a 6-of-8 showing from three point land. The Golden Bears also went 5-for-5 from the charity stripe in the first half as well.

Both teams continued to shoot well in the second half as the score remained close early. CU managed to get within four points of the Mavericks on two occasions but they would get no closer as MSU regained the double-digit lead, en route to a 93-80 victory.

Monaghan finished with a game-high 25 points, to go along with nine assists. Marei and freshman TJ Lake posted 15 points each, while Miller added 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Mike Busack dropped in 14 points as well.

As a team, MSU tallied 14 three pointers on the evening as it shot 50% from behind the arc. From the field, the Mavericks shot 56.9% from the field, to go along with a 13-of-15 (.867) showing from the line. The Mavericks also passed out 22 assists and brought down 28 rebounds.

Keith Crockett led the Golden Bears with 21 points, while Omot added 17 points. As a team, CU shot 56.6% from the field, including a 7-of-14 performance from behind the arc.

The Mavericks continue play in Taylor Center on Friday as they host the Winona State Warriors. The game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

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