MANKATO, Minn. --- It came down to the wire Saturday evening in Taylor Center, but it was Minnesota State that was able to come away with the 72-70 win over Southwest Minnesota State.

With the win, MSU improves to 15-4, including an 11-2 NSIC record. With the loss, SMSU falls to 14-6, including a 10-4 NSIC record.

The first half saw a back and forth contest as the teams were knotted up at 31-31 heading into the locker room. SMSU started the game on a 5-0 run, including a three pointer from Michael Lee. The Mavericks would respond with a 14-2 run to go up 14-7 as the game went into the first media timeout, but SMSU would battle back and knot up the score at 16-16 with 10:54 to go in the half.

Senior Chris Kendrix, who led all scorers in the first half with 13 points, connected on a pair of free throws to put MSU up 31-27 with 3:10 remaining in the half. SMSU hit four free throws in the final minutes of the half to lock up the score at 31-31.

As a team, MSU shot 35.5% from the field in the first half, to go along with a 6-of-9 (.667) showing from the free throw line.

Ryan Bruggeman led the SMSU offense in the first half with eight points and three assists. As a team, the Mustangs shot 37.5% from the field, to go along with a 4-of-4 showing from the line.

The second half saw a total of 10 lead changes as neither team led by more than eight points in the second stanza. The Mustangs built their eight-point lead at 45-37 with 14:48 to go, but MSU responded with a 10-0 run, which included five points from senior Charlie Brown, to retake the lead at 47-45.

SMSU managed to go back up by six points on a pair of occasions, but with just 4:03 to go, both teams were tied at 61-61. Three points from Brown, and four points from senior Isaac Kreuer, put the Mavericks up by four at 71-67 with :49 seconds remaining. SMSU's Nick Dufault then brought the Mustangs back within one with a three pointer at 71-70. 

An SMSU flagrant foul on the next possession put Kendrix at the line shooting two. Kendrix made one of his two attempts to put MSU up 72-70, but MSU's three pointer missed the mark with :09 seconds left. SMSU's Turner Moen grabbed the rebound and passed it up to his teammate Michael Turner who's layup missed the mark with :01 second left. The Mustangs were unable to control the inbounds pass as the Mavericks locked down the 72-70 win.

Kendrix led the Maverick offense with 20 points, while Brown added 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Junior Carlos Anderson added 14 points off the bench, while junior Cole Harper notched a team-leading seven rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 38.3% from the field, to go along with a 19-of-24 (.792) showing from the free throw line. 

Ryan Bruggeman led the Mustang offense with 21 points and six assists, while Carter Kirk notched a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. As a team, SMSU shot 42.2% from the field. The Mustangs drained all nine of their shots from the line as well.

MSU returns to action on the road on Tuesday as it takes on Concordia-St. Paul. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.


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