MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team fell to the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs, Friday night at Taylor Center. 
 
SMSU started the scoring in the opening minutes quickly jumping out to a 5-0 lead over the Mavericks. Senior Jon Fuqua got Minnesota State on the board at the 16:51 mark with a layup off an offensive rebound. After trading baskets, the Mustangs led the game 9-6 at the 13:22 mark with Fuqua accounting for all six Maverick's points.  After a pair of three point shots from sophomore Cole Harper brought the score to 16-20, Harper pulled down a defensive rebound driving the length of the court and threw an alley-oop to Fuqua who threw it down with authority.  

With the Mustangs leading 23-18 out of the second media timeout, junior Charlie Brown drove through the lane for an acrobatic layup as he was fouled to get the and-one opportunity, which he converted.  Despite the increased offense from the Mavericks, the hot shooting of SMSU gave them a 28-23 lead with 4:51 remaining in the first half.  

Out of the timeout sophomore Jay Knuth nailed a three-point shot with time expiring on the shot clock.  On the following offensive possession, Minnesota State managed to give itself extra opportunities with four consecutive offensive rebounds leading to Brown getting fouled driving to the basket where he would hit one of the two free throw attempts to make it a one-point game.  Both teams traded baskets down the stretch of the first half resulting in the Mavericks trailing 32-34 going into the locker rooms. 
 
Fuqua led the Mavericks in scoring in the first half tallying 10 points and adding three rebounds.  Brown added eight points as well and had a pair of assists to go along with a steal.  Minnesota State shot 37.9% from the field in the first half while the Mustangs managed to shoot 51.9% from the field as well as making 6-11 three-point shots.

As the second half began SMSU streaked out to a 41-32 lead behind seven straight points from guard KJ Davis. Sophomore Joey Witthus stopped the streak with a three-point shot from the right side of the key.  To combat the Mustangs 2-3 zone defense the Mavericks pushed the ball from side-to-side getting a pair of wide open threes for senior Trey Sampson who narrowed the SMSU lead to 45-41.  

After both teams traded baskets the score stood at 50-46, with the Mustangs still holding the lead with 14:05 remaining in the second half.  After an offensive rebound from Sampson, freshman Cameron Kirksey took a pass on the low block and hit a turnaround jumper to give the Mavericks their first lead of the game, 51-50, with 9:49 to go in the second half.  

After a pair of SMSU midrange jumpers, a steal from Brown got pushed down the floor leading to Fuqua putting in a contested layup and drawing a foul to get the and-one, the make giving Minnesota State a 56-54 lead with 6:41 remaining in the second half. The Mavericks answered a bucket from the Mustangs with a 6-0 run capped off by a fast break layup from Harper to give Minnesota State a 62-56 lead with 4:05 remaining.  

In response to a three-point shot from SMSU Fuqua took an inside pass from Brown and was fouled on the way up leading to a pair of made free-throws.  After a Maverick turnover, the Mustangs hit another three-point shot leading to a Minnesota State timeout with 1:21 remaining, MSU holding a 64-62 lead.  A Maverick turnover led to a Mustang three-point play to give them back the lead at 65-64.  After a Minnesota State miss, Southwest Minnesota State was sent to the line and made both shots giving them a three point lead with :06 remaining.  As the time ran out Witthus hoisted a three from the right corner that bounced out, giving the Mustangs the 67-64 win.

Fuqua led MSU with 20 points and added five rebounds with a pair of assists.  Brown also added 12 points on the game and gave the Mavericks a big spark off the bench.  For the game, Minnesota State shot 37.9% from the field compared to 51.9% from the Mustangs who also finished the game making 10-17 three-point attempts.  

With the loss, Minnesota State moves to 18-9 (13-8 NSIC) on the season. The Mavericks play their final game of the regular season Saturday at 6:00 p.m., against the Sioux Falls Cougars.

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