CROOKSTON, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team got back into the win column on the road Friday evening as it defeated Minnesota Crookston 78-74.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 14-7, including a 9-6 NSIC record. With the loss, the Golden Eagles fall to 6-15, including a 2-13 conference record. MSU now owns a 23-0 all-time record against UMC.

The first half saw the Mavericks hold the lead through the majority of the opening 20 minutes. The Mavericks led by as many as 10 points as they went on to carry a seven-point lead into the locker room at 39-32.

Sophomore Joey Witthus paced the Maverick offense in the first half as he tallied 11 points and three assists. Nine of his points came via a trio of three point plays. Senior Aarias Austin and sophomores Cole Harper and Jay Knuth each tallied six points in the first half as well. 

As a team, Minnesota State shot 48.3% from the field in the first half, including a 3-of-7 (.429) performance from behind the arc. The Mavericks also held a 19-15 advantage on the glass and passed out nine assists.

Harrison Cleary led all scorers in the first half with 19 points as he connected on 9-of-15 attempts from the field. As a team, UMC shot 44.1% from the field in the opening stanza, but was 1-of-10 from downtown. 

The second half saw the Mavericks controlling the pace early on as they led by 12 at 59-47 with 7:47 to go in the game. Undaunted, the Golden Eagles managed to claw back within two points of Minnesota State at 67-65 with 2:36 to go.

The Mavericks answered right back with a 5-0 run over the next 1:18 as both senior Jon Fuqua and Knuth recorded a layup, with Fuqua also adding a free throw, to go back up by seven at 72-65. The Golden Eagles managed to get back within three points of the Mavericks three more times in the final minute but they would get no closer as the Mavericks locked down the 78-74 win.

Four Mavericks reached double-digits in the scoring column Friday evening, including Witthus who notched a team-high 16 points and four assists. Fuqua and Harper each tallied 15 points, with Harper hauling in a team-high seven rebounds, while junior Charlie Brown added 11 points off the bench in the second half.

As a team, MSU shot 51.9% from the field. It also passed out 12 assists

Cleary led all scorers with 42 points as he connected on 17-of-28 shots from the field. Connor Gamble added 10 points off the bench as well.

Minnesota State concludes its road trip in Saturday as it takes on the Bemidji State Beavers. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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