MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team wrapped up its weekend at Taylor Center with another victory Saturday evening as it defeated Bemidji State 87-70.

With the win, MSU improves to 18-4, including a 14-2 NSIC record. With the loss, BSU drops to 9-12, including a 6-10 conference record. The Mavericks have now won their last six games.

A little under eight minutes into the game, Bemidji State built a six-point lead at 18-12, only to see MSU respond with a 15-0 run to go up 27-18 with 6:25 to go in the half. MSU's 15-0 run including eight straight points from sophomore Kevin Krieger.

The Mavericks were able to go up by 16 at 35-19 with less than four minutes to go in the half, but Bemidji State was able to chip away at MSU's lead as it closed the half on a 14-6 run, including four points from Jai'Vionne Green, to bring the first half score to 41-33.

Krieger led all scorers in the first half with 18 points, while shooting 6-of-9 from the field. Krieger also hauled in a team-leading five rebounds, while sophomore Cameron Kirksey tallied seven points in seven minutes. As a team, MSU shot 41.7% from the field and 8-of-16 from behind the arc. MSU also held a 26-15 advantage on the glass.

Christian Pekarek led the BSU offense in the first half with 10 points, while Sharif Black added eight points and six rebounds. As a unit, BSU shot 43.3% from the field in the opening stanza.

The second half saw the Mavericks hold a double-digit lead through the majority of the final 20 minutes. With 12:57 to go, MSU built an 18-point lead at 63-45 which included nine points from Krieger. The Beavers managed to get back within 11 points of the Mavericks at 70-59 with 6:20 to go, but BSU would get no closer as MSU closed out the game with an 87-70 win.

Krieger finished the game with a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds for his second career double-double. He finished his night shooting 11-of-16 from the field, including a 6-of-9 showing from behind the arc. Senior Chris Kendrix finished his night with 14 points and nine rebounds, while senior Charlie Brown add 14 points and five assists. Junior Carlos Anderson added 10 points as well.

As a team, MSU shot 47.2% from the field, including a 13-of-24 (.542) performance from three point land. The Mavericks also held a 50-28 advantage in rebounds and passed out 15 assists.

Pekarek led the BSU offense with 17 points, while Jai'Vionne Green and Sharif Black each tallied 15 points. As a team, BSU shot 47.5% from the field.

The Mavericks begin a two-game road trip on Friday as they take on Minnesota Duluth at 8:00 p.m.

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