MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State and Minnesota Crookston battled back and forth Friday evening at Taylor Center but it was MSU that was able to get the last shot to drop as it came away with an 80-78 victory.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 17-4, including a 13-2 NSIC record. With the loss, the Golden Eagles fall to 8-13, including a 5-10 league record. MSU has now won its last five outings. 

The first half featured nine lead changes as both teams shot 13-of-30 (.433) from the field. With 9:07 to go in the half, a jumper from UMC's Alan Hodge put the Golden Eagles up 20-19, but a dunk from sophomore Cameron Kirksey gave the Mavericks the lead right back to the Mavericks just 13 seconds later.

A little more than five minutes later, Minnesota Crookston was able to build the largest lead of the half at 32-24 with 3:36 to go, but MSU would finish the half outscoring the Golden Eagles 10-2 to send the game into halftime tied at 34-34. Six of MSU's final 10 points of the half came courtesy of senior Chris Kendrix.

Kendrix led the Maverick offense in the first half with nine points, while sophomore Kevin Krieger tallied eight points. Kirksey finished the opening stanza with six points and seven rebounds as well.

Harrison Cleary led all scorers in the first half with 22 points, while Hodge notched seven points for the Golden Eagles.

The second half saw neither team lead by more than a basket through the first 10 minutes as MSU led by two at 57-55 with 10:16 to go. The Mavericks would then go on a 14-6 run to build their largest lead of the game at 71-61 with 4:27 left. MSU's 14-6 run included six points from Krieger and four points from both Kendrix and junior Carlos Anderson.

The Golden Eagles responded with a 14-4 run of their own to knot up the score at 75-75 with 2:07 left in the game. Three free throws gave the Mavericks a 78-75 lead with 1:07 to go but a three pointer from UMC's Gable Smith locked up the score at 78-78 with :08 seconds left.

The Mavericks were able to answer right back as senior Charlie Brown drove down the lane and got his layup drop with 1.5 seconds remaining to put MSU up 80-78. UMC was unable to get a final shot off as MSU held on to the 80-78 win.

Both Kendrix and Kirksey notched double-doubles in the Mavericks' win. Kendrix notched 20 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, while Kirksey tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Krieger netted 20 points as well, while Brown finished with nine points, four rebounds and six assists.

As a team, MSU shot 45.5% from the field. The Mavericks also hauled in 36 rebounds and passed out 11 assists.

Cleary finished the game with 46 points, which included a 15-of-31 showing from the field and an 11-of-11 performance from the line. Smith tallied a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. 

As a unit, Minnesota Crookston shot 46.8% fro the field, including a 9-of-20 (.450) showing from three point range. 

Minnesota State wraps up its homestand on Saturday as it takes on Bemidji State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. 


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