MOORHEAD, Minn. --- Minnesota State's return from winter break proved to be worth the wait Friday evening as the Mavericks bested the MSU Moorhead Dragons 74-65 on the road.
With the win, the Mavericks now own an 8-4 overall record, including a 3-3 NSIC record. With the loss, the Dragons fall to 10-3, including a 5-2 conference record.
The Mavericks never trailed during the first half and quickly built a 10-point lead at 12-2 with 15:41 to go in the half. The Dragons managed to get back within four of the Mavericks at 15-11 but the Mavericks would charge right back and quickly rebuild their double-digit lead.
With 3:31 to go in the first half MSU Moorhead managed to get back within eight of the Mavericks at 34-26, but the Mavericks would close out the final minutes of the first half on a 5-0 run to carry a 39-26 lead into the locker room. Freshman
Cameron Kirksey scored all five of Minnesota State's points in the final three minutes of the half.
Seven Mavericks reached the scoring column in the first half, including freshman
Kevin Krieger who led all scorers with nine in the opening stanza. Sophomore
Joey Witthus added eight points, while sophomore
Cole Harper netted four points and hauled in seven rebounds. Kirksey tallied seven points off the bench as well.
As a team, the Mavericks shot 45.7% from the field in the first half, including a 4-of-10 performance from long range. The Mavericks also passed out 11 assists in the opening session.
Ayob Ayob led the Dragon offense with eight points in the first half. As a team, the Dragons shot 29% from the field, including a 25% showing from behind the arc.
With 15:55 to go in the game, the Mavericks led by 10 at 46-36. The Dragons managed to get within one of the Mavericks at 52-51 with 10:29 to go, but they could not overtake Minnesota State in the scoring column as the Mavericks responded with a 17-2 run during the following six minutes to take a 16-point lead at 69-53. The Mavericks would go on to win by the final score of 74-65.
Minnesota State finished the game shooting 44.6% from the field, including an 8-of-18 (.444) performance from behind the three point line. The Mavericks also passed out 17 assists and committed just three turnovers.
Witthus led the Maverick offense with 27 points, which included a 5-of-7 performance from beyond the arc. At one point in the second half, Witthus scored 11 straight points for the Mavericks. Krieger recorded a season-high 11 points, while Harper added eight points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Kirksey finished with nine points and four rebounds as well.
MSU Moorhead, which enter tonight's contest averaging 93 points a game, shot just 33.9% from the field and 29% from behind the three point line. Aaron Lien led the Dragons with 17 points, while Ayob notched 13 points and nine rebounds. Tanner Kretchman added 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as well.
Minnesota State wraps up its road trip Saturday as it takes on the Northern State Wolves. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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