MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team won in a confident performance Tuesday evening against NSIC opponent Concordia-St. Paul by the score of 76-56.

With the win, MSU improves to 11-5, including a 6-4 NSIC record. With the loss, CSP falls to 4-13, including a 1-9 conference record.

Minnesota State led Concordia-St. Paul 40-25 heading at halftime. The Mavericks started the scoring early forcing CSP into a timeout after building a 12-4 lead with only four minutes off the clock. The Mavericks continued the scoring after the break, extending their run to 15-0 as they led 18-4.

Individual effort and heads up play by the Mavericks contributed to their lead when both senior Jon Fuqua and freshman Cameron Kirksey finished plays at the rim. Both teams traded baskets through the heart of the first half before the Golden Bears started to find their range beyond the three point line. 

The Golden Bears scored consecutive three's with 3:16 left on the clock, cutting the Maverick lead to 32-25. The Mavericks went on another streak to end the half scoring eight points, including traveling the length of the court with five seconds left to get a basket at the buzzer, to carry a 40-25 lead into the locker room.

Fuqua led all scorers at half with 14 points shooting 60% from the field and adding three steals and five rebounds. The Mavericks were dominant during the first half leading the Golden Bears for nearly 19 minutes. MSU shot 89% from the free throw line sinking 8-of-9, and led in points off turnovers (15) and points in the paint (22).

Starting with the ball in the second half, the Mavericks immediately added to their lead when sophomore Joey Witthus scored his ninth point of the game from a close range jumper. Several patient offensive possessions culminated with Fuqua finding Kirksey down low who finished strong at the rim bringing MSU's lead to 50-31. Concordia-St. Paul answered back with a 10-2 run forcing Minnesota State to take a time out with 9:33 left on the clock to stop the Golden Bears momentum.  

Out of the timeout, the Mavericks had two possessions extended with tough play gaining offensive rebounds and buckets from Witthus and Fuqua. The Mavericks forced CSP into a timeout of its own after an 8-2 run put them up 63-45 with 5:40 left in the game. Minnesota State controlled the tempo for the rest of the game resulting in a 20-point margin of victory and a final score of 76-56.

Fuqua was a single rebound away from recording a double-double finishing the night with 20 points and nine rebounds. Witthus added 18 points for the Mavericks and Kirksey had 12. The Mavericks shot 51.7% from the field Tuesday and the bench added 20 points while Minnesota State secured their eleventh win of the season.

The Mavericks are back in action this Friday at Taylor Center when they take the court against Minot State at 8:00 p.m.