ABERDEEN, S.D. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team won its fourth straight game Saturday evening as it defeated the Northern State Wolves 90-85 on the road.
With the win, MSU improves to 9-4, including a 4-3 NSIC record. With the loss, NSU falls to 9-5, including a 6-2 league record. This is the first time the Mavericks have swept a weekend road series against Northern State and MSU Moorhead. MSU's win against Northern State represents the 1,300th win in program history.
The first half saw five lead changes, with the Mavericks leading through the majority of the opening 20 minutes. Minnesota State was able to build a 10-point lead at 34-24 with 5:17 remaining in the half, but the Wolves would go on a 13-0 run to retake the lead at 37-34. A jump shot from senior
Aarias Austin with seven seconds remaining sent both teams into the locker room tied 38-38.
Freshman
Kevin Krieger led all scorers in the first half with 13 points, while senior
Jon Fuqua added 12 points and five rebounds. Krieger, who hauled in three rebounds in the first half, connected on 3-of-4 (.750) attempts from beyond the arc as well.
As a team, Minnesota State shot 44.4% from the field in the opening session. The Mavericks also notched 12 points off of 10 NSU first-half turnovers.
Mack Arvidson led the Wolves in the first half with nine points, while DJ Pollard added six points and eight rebounds. As a team, Northern State enjoyed a 23-15 advantage in rebounds in the first half. NSU also shot 48% from the field in the opening stanza.
The second half saw Northern State build a six-point lead at 52-46 with 13:56 left in the game. The Mavericks fought their way back and eventually tied up the score at 58-58 with 9:37 left. Both Fuqua and sophomore
Joey Witthus notched four points during that stretch.
MSU took the lead for good at 60-58 after a jumper from freshman
Cameron Kirksey with 8:50 remaining. The Mavericks would lead by as many as nine points during the final nine minutes as they cashed in from the free throw line. In total, MSU connected on 25-of-33 (.758) attempts from the line in the second half. Witthus connected on 11-of-12 attempts from the line, while Fuqua connected on 7-of-10 tries as well.
NSU managed to get back within five of the Mavericks at 81-76 with 55 seconds left, but free throws from Fuqua, Witthus and senior
Trey Sampson allowed Minnesota State to lock down the 90-85 win.
Witthus led the Maverick offense with 22 points, while Fuqua notched 21 points and seven rebounds. Krieger finished his game with a season-high 17 points, to go along with seven rebounds, while sophomore
Cole Harper added 14 points, 12 of which came in the second session.
As a team, MSU connected on 28-of-39 (.718) opportunities from the line. The Mavericks also shot 46.8% from the field. MSU also forced 17 Northern State turnovers, while committing just six themselves.
Arvidson led the Wolves with 22 points, Pollard notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Logan Doyle also registered a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, the Wolves shot 54.5% from the field, including a 46.2% showing from behind the arc. NSU also held a 38-32 advantage in rebounds.
Minnesota State begins a five-game homestand this Friday as it takes on the Augustana Vikings. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
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