MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team stayed perfect in NSIC action Saturday evening as it defeated MSU Moorhead 81-58 at Taylor Center

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 10-2, with an undefeated NSIC record of 6-0. The Dragons fall to 4-9 and are now 2-5 in conference action.

Lockdown defense by both teams kept a lid on the scoring into the first media timeout of the first half with the scored tied at 6-6. Three ties and four lead changes saw the Dragons take a 19-14 lead with 8:02 left in the half, but a basket from senior Isaac Kreuer broke a five-minute draught for Minnesota State at 19-16. 

With the Maverick offense sparked by Kreuer, senior Chris Kendrix grabbed a defensive board and went coast-to-coast for the layup, bringing the home team within one point of the lead. Sophomore Cole Harper then found Kendrix for the go-ahead bucket at the 5:25 mark of the half, all part of an 8-0 run, forcing MSU Moorhead into a timeout. 

Kendrix would extend the run to 11-0 with a bucket from beyond the arc, out of the Dragon timeout. With Minnesota State leading the visitors 27-21, the Dragons went on an 8-0 streak of their own to regain the lead, 29-27, with :20 seconds left in the half.  Senior Charlie Brown created a chance to tie the game leading into the break, driving the lane and forcing the defensive foul. Brown hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 29-29, the fourth tie of the contest. 

The Mavericks led the Dragons after the first half of play in rebounds (21-19), steals (4-2), and bench points (8-5).

Minnesota State broke the deadlock after half by going on a second 8-0 run. Brown scored five of the Mavericks' first eight points of the half to make the lead of MSU Moorhead 37-29. Back-to-back threes by Brown and sophomore Kevin Krieger brought the score to 47-35 with 14:28 remaining, giving the home team its largest lead of the game, creating its third streak of eight or more points. 

The Minnesota State offense continued to quietly and efficiently score up to the second timeout of the half, outscoring the Dragons 25-11 in the half at the 9:22 mark, leading 54-40. MSU Moorhead and the Mavericks traded baskets to the 4:59 mark of the half, with Minnesota State holding a 15-point 64-49 lead. The Mavericks closed out the win on an 11-5 steak over the last three minutes of play to make the final score 81-58, a 23-point margin of victory.
 
Minnesota State shot 46.5% from the floor and 46.7% from three-point range. The Mavericks grabbed 41 rebounds, seven steals, dealt 14 assists and created 13 turnovers. Five players finished with double digits scoring, with Brown leading all scorers in the contest with 19 points. Krieger and junior Carlos Anderson added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Kendrix finished with 10 points and led the team with seven rebounds. 

Minnesota State will take on #13 Northern State on New Year's Eve with tip-off scheduled for 4:00 pm at Taylor Center. 

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