SEATTLE, Wash. --- The 17th-rated Minnesota State men's basketball team opened its west coast trip Friday evening with a 78-69 win over the Seattle Pacific Falcons.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Falcons fall to 2-1.

The first half saw a close game as neither team led by more than five points. With just under nine minutes to go in the opening stanza both teams were knotted up at 22, but SPU was able to finish the half on an 18-13 to take a 40-35 lead into the locker room.

Junior Charlie Brown paced the Maverick offense in the first half with 11 points, while senior Jon Fuqua added eight points and three rebounds. Sophomore Cole Harper registered seven points and three assists in the first half as well.

A a unit, MSU shot 41.7% from the field in the first half. It also recorded six steals and forced 10 Seattle Pacific turnovers.

SPU's Coleman Wooten recorded a double-double in the first half with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

As a team, the Falcons shot 44.4% from the field in the first half. SPU also outrebounded the Mavericks 29-15 in the first session, which included 10 offensive rebounds. 

The early portion of the second half saw the Falcons maintain their lead, but an old fashioned three point play from freshman Kevin Krieger knotted up the score at 48-48 with 13:11 to go in the game. MSU then managed to jump ahead by six at 54-48 after two baskets from Fuqua and one from Brown, but SPU was able to claw its way back to tie up the score at 56-56 with 8:49 left in the second half.

MSU responded decisively on its next possession as Brown completed another three point play to put the Mavericks back up by three at 59-56 with just over eight minutes to go. Minnesota State would then close out the game on a 19-13 run to lock down the 78-69 victory.

Brown tallied a season-high 22 points, which included an 8-of-16 showing from the field. Harper notched 15 points, matching his previous career-high, to go along with eight rebounds, while Fuqua posted 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior AJ Patty and sophomore Joey Witthus added 11 and 10 points, respectively, as well.

As a team, MSU shot 41.4% from the field. Minnesota State also recorded 17 points off of 15 SPU turnovers, to go along with 17 second chance points.

Wooten led the Falcons with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Sharif Khan added 14 points off the bench.

The Mavericks wrap up their road trip in Seattle on Saturday as they take on the Central Washington Wildcats. The opening tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

                                                                    -30-