MANKATO, Minn. --- It came down to the wire Sunday evening in Taylor Center but it was #13 Northern State that was able to come away with the win as it defeated Minnesota State 87-84.
With the loss, the Mavericks fall to 10-3 on the season, including a 6-1 NSIC record. With the win, NSU improves to 14-1, including an 8-0 conference record.
The first half saw a couple of lead changes, but it was MSU that led throughout the majority of the first half as it carried a 44-37 lead into the locker room. The Mavericks built their largest lead of the first half with 9:21 to go as sophomore
Cole Harper completed a three point play to put MSU up 27-18.
Northern State managed to get back within two points of the Mavericks in the final five minutes of the half, but a pair of three pointers from sophomore
Carter Asche and one from senior
Chris Kendrix gave the Mavericks a 44-37 lead heading into the locker room.
As a team, MSU shot 47.5% from the field. It also forced 10 NSU turnovers. Senior Charlie Brown led the Maverick offense with eight points in the first half, while Harper and sophomore
Kevin Krieger each tallied seven points.
As a unit, Northern State shot 50% from the field in the first half, to go along with a 10-of-12 (.833) showing from the free throw line. Logan Doyle led all scorers in the first half 12 points.
In the second half the Mavericks maintained their lead through the first five minutes, but a pair of free throws from NSU's Bo Fries knotted up the score at 49-49 with 14:56 to go. Northern State would lead by no more than three points through the next five minutes but a 7-0 run, capped off by a layup from Ian Smith, gave the Wolves a 66-59 lead with 9:35 remaining.
The Mavericks fought their way back into the game and eventually took the lead at 72-71 with 4:49 remaining after Harper completed a three point play. The Wolves answered right away as Smith put NSU back up 73-72 on the following possession. NSU would go on to build a seven point lead at 83-76.
Trailing by seven with 36 seconds left, the Mavericks once again chipped away at NSU's lead. A layup from Brown and a pair of three pointers from Krieger brought the Mavericks back to within three at 84-87 with five seconds left. MSU then forced a turnover with 2.2 seconds left but it was unable to get a shot off to force overtime as the Wolves held on to the 87-84 win.
Krieger led the Maverick offense with 19 points, while Brown added 17 points. Harper finished with 14 points and five rebounds, while Kendrix added six points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
As a team, MSU shot 48.6% from the field, to go along with an 8-of-20 (.400) showing from long range. MSU also forced 14 turnovers and passed out 12 assists.
Doyle led all scorers with 26 points. Doyle also hauled in a team-leading eight rebounds. Smith added 18 points and three assists as well. As a team, NSU shot 54.9% from the field. It also connected on 27-of-35 (.771) shots from the free throw line.
Minnesota State begins a four-game road trip this Friday as it takes on Augustana. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
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