MARSHALL, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team put on a show Saturday evening in Marshall as the Mavericks topped Southwest Minnesota State 108-73.
With the win, MSU improves to 22-6 on the season, including a 17-5 record in NSIC play. With the loss, SMSU falls to 12-16, with an 8-14 record in league action.
This is the first time this season the Mavericks have eclipsed the 100-point plateau and the first time since last season when MSU defeated Sioux Falls 103-101. This is now the 29th time MSU has scored 100 points or more under head coach Matt Margenthaler.
The Maverick offense was firing on all cylinders during the first half as it poured in 52 points, on a 20-of-34 (.588) showing from the field. MSU's 52 points were the second-highest tally in the first half this season.
With 16:38 left in the first half, the Mavericks built an 11-point lead at 15-4. MSU would maintain its double-digit lead throughout the remainder of the first half as it took a 52-35 lead into the locker room.
Senior
Assem Marei led all scorers in the first half with 18 points, to go along with five rebounds. Freshman
TJ Lake dropped in 14 points in the first stanza, while senior
Zach Monaghan added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Turner Moen led the Mustang offense in the first half with nine points, while Cole Martin posted eight points and four rebounds.
The Maverick offense in the second half continued to dominate as it outscored the Mustangs 56-38, en route to claiming the 108-73 win.
Marei led all scorers with 24 point, to go along with eight rebounds. This is the fourth straight game where Marei has tallied at least 24 points. Lake finished the game matching his previous career-high of 20 points, while Monaghan added 15 points and nine assists.
Senior
Zach Romashko added 12 points and now sits just eight points away from 1,000 career points. Freshman
Alex Herink added 10 points as well. In total, all 11 Mavericks who appeared on the court tallied at least two points.
As a team, MSU shot 58.3% from the field, to go along with a 41.4% showing from behind the arc. The Mavericks also brought down 46 rebounds and passed out 23 assists.
Travis Meinders led the Mustangs with 16 points.
The Mavericks will begin play in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament on Wednesday as they host Minnesota Crookston. The opening tip is scheduled for 8 p.m.
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