WINONA, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team suffered just its third road loss of the season Saturday evening as it fell to Winona State 84-56.

With the loss, the Mavericks finish their regular season schedule with an 18-10 record, including a 14-8 NSIC record. With the win, the Warriors improve to 12-16, including a 9-13 conference record. The Mavericks also claimed a share of the NSIC South Division championship with Wayne State and Augustana. This is the third time that the Mavericks have won the south division title.

Minnesota State received the No. 1 seed in the south division of the NSIC and will now host Bemidji State in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at Taylor Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

The first half saw a close affair early on as Winona State led the Mavericks 21-17 with 10 minutes to go. The lead changed hands four time in the first 10 minutes of the game as neither team led by more than five points.

The Warriors then went on a 13-4 run over the net four minutes to build a 13-point lead at 34-21 with 6:06 left in the half. The Mavericks managed to bring the score back within 10 points a few occasions, but the Warriors would score nine of the final 11 points of the half to take a 47-30 lead into halftime.

Junior Kevin Krieger led the Maverick offense with 12 points, while freshman Quincy Anderson tallied five points and four rebounds off the bench. As a team, MSU shot 41.4% from the field in the opening stanza.

Tommy Gathje led all scorers in the second half with 19 points as he connected on 6-of-8 shots from the field. As a team, WSU shot 56.7% from the field in the first half, including a 7-of-11 (.636) showing from long range.  

The second half saw the Warriors lead by double-digits throughout as they outscored the Mavericks 37-26, en route to their 84-56 victory.

Krieger led the Maverick offense with 14 points, while junior Cameron Kirksey added 11 points and seven rebounds. Quincy Anderson finished with seven points and a team-best eight rebounds as well.

As a unit, MSU shot 36.7% from the field and 7-of-9 (.778) from the free throw line. 

Gathje led all scorers with 22 points as he connected on 6-of-10 attempts from three point range. Kevion Taylor added 17 points and nine rebounds as well, while Devin Whitelow tallied seven assists.

As a team, WSU shot 31-of-61 (.508) from the field, including a 16-of-30 (.533) showing from long range.


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