MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State rolled St. Cloud State Saturday evening in Taylor Center by the score of 79-62. 

With the victory, the Mavericks improve to 17-7, including a 12-6 NSIC record. With the loss, the Huskies drop to 17-10, including a 13-5 conference record. 

Minnesota set the tone early after sophomore Cole Harper drove the lane and dished to senior Jon Fuqua who converted on the and-one, giving the Mavericks a 14-6 lead with 12:47 remaining in the first half. Later, Gage Davis brought St. Cloud State back to life after hitting threes on back-to-back possessions, bringing the Huskies within three, 20-23. 

Fuqua drove the lane and converted his fourth made field goal of the half, giving the Mavericks a seven point lead, 29-22, with 4:47 left.  After St. Cloud State converted a few baskets to make things close, junior Charlie Brown again drove the lane late, and made his layup attempt. The Mavericks went into the half leading the Huskies 41-35.
 
Fuqua lead the Mavericks with 13 points, shooting 5-6 from the field, and snagging five rebounds in the half. Sophomore Joey Witthus also grabbed nine rebounds and was 4-of-4 from the line. As a team Minnesota State shot 43.8% (14-32) from the field, 83.3% (10-12) from the stripe, and outscored SCSU's bench 14-0. St. Cloud State shot 45.2% (14-31) from the field and 30.0% (3-10) from behind the arc. 

Davis got the Huskies off to a hot start in the second half after hitting his third and fourth threes of the game. The Mavericks countered when Fuqua received an alley-oop pass from senior Aarias Austin, and slammed it home at the 16:36 mark to give the Mavericks a 49-41 advantage. On the Mavericks next possession, Austin hit a three from the wing to extend the Maverick lead to 59-45 with 13:58 left. Fuqua scored his eighth field goal of the game after receiving a pass from senior Trey Sampson, and gave the Mavericks a 21 point lead at 69-48, with 9:35 left in the game. 

Austin continued his impressive play in the second half after driving and throwing down a one handed slam of his own at the 5:05 mark, giving the Mavericks a commanding 75-54 lead. This 21-point lead proved insurmountable as the Mavericks went on to defeat the Huskies 79-62.  
 
The Mavericks bench outscored the huskies 21-6 for the game, and Fuqua had a team-high 25 points, finishing the night shooting 8-of-10 from the field, and grabbing eight boards. Austin finished his night with 16 points and a season-high nine rebounds, while Witthus added eight points and 10 rebounds. 

Minnesota State finished the night shooting 49.2% (29-59) from the floor, 84.2% (16-19) from the stripe, and added 46 rebounds. St. Cloud State finished the night shooting 36.2% (25-69) from the field, 29.2% (7-24) from three, and had 33 rebounds. Davis finished the game with a double-double as he tallied 26 points and 10 rebounds. 

MSU returns to action on the road this Friday as it takes on Upper Iowa at 8:00 p.m. 

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