KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team came up short Saturday afternoon at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday afternoon as it fell to #10 Missouri Southern State 74-69.

With the loss the Mavericks drop to 0-2, while the Lions improve to 2-0.

Halfway through the opening stanza the Mavericks built a 17-10 lead. The Maverick offense was sparked by freshmen Corvon Seales and Ryland Holt who combined to hit three consecutive three pointers over the course of three minutes.

Missouri Southern managed to put together a 15-5 run to go up 25-22 with just over five minutes left in the half, but the Mavericks would finish the half with an 18-12 run to take a 40-37 lead into the locker room.

Seales led the Maverick offense in the first half with 12 points, while Holt and senior Kevin Krieger each tallied 10 points. As a unit, MSU shot 42.9% from the field in the first half, including a 9-of-17 (.529) performance from behind the arc.

Parker Jennings led all scores in the first half with 15 points, while Cam Martin scored 10. Missouri Southern shot 39.3% from the field in the first half and took advantage of 9-of-10 attempts from the line. 

The lead changed hands a few time during the first part of the second half as both teams found themselves tied a 55-55 with 9:05 remaining. Neither team led by more than four points during the first 11 minutes of the second half.

Missouri Southern was then able to put together a 12-5 run over the next six minutes to go up 67-60 with 3:42 to left. The Mavericks managed to get back within two points of the Lions in the final minutes but they could get no closer as Missouri Southern claimed the 74-69 win.

Seales led the Maverick offense with 19 points, while Holt tallied 15 points and five rebounds. Krieger added 13 points and five rebounds, while senior Cameron Kirksey posted 12 points. 

As a team, MSU shot 40.6% from the field, 13-of-30 (.433) showing from three point range. The Maverick bench accounted for 36 of MSU's points as well.

Cam Martin led all scorers with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Parker Jennings netted 16 points. Missouri Southern connected on 21-of-26 (.808) shots from the free throw line and scored 16 points off of 11 Maverick turnovers.

Minnesota State opens its home schedule on Saturday, Nov. 16, as it hosts St. Cloud State in a nonconference game at Taylor Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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