MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team was upended by Bemidji State 66-56 Wednesday evening in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament.

With the loss, MSU drops to 18-11, while BSU improves to 10-17. The Beavers will now take on the winner of the game between Southwest Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead in the second round this Sunday. 

The first half saw Bemidji State lead through most of the opening 20 minutes. BSU led by no more than six points through the first 10 minutes as the Mavericks and Beavers remained close. With 9:17 to go in the half, BSU went up 20-15 after a pair of free throws from Ja Morgan, but MSU would go on a 9-4 run over the next four minutes to knot up the score at 24-24.

The Beavers then finished the final five minutes of the half on a 15-2 run to take a 39-26 lead into halftime.

Senior Carlos Anderson led the Maverick offense in the first half with eight points, while junior Juwan McCloud and junior Cameron Kirksey each tallied five points. As a team, MSU shot 33.3% from the field in the opening stanza.

Morgan led all scorers in the first half with 12 points and six assists, while Derek Thompson tallied 11 points and five rebounds. As a unit, BSU held a 21-12 advantage in rebounds in the first half.

The second half saw the Beavers holding a 12-point lead at 51-39 with 9:55 to go in the half. The Mavericks managed to close the gap to six points at 53-47 with 7:38 to go, but they would get no closer as BSU outscored MSU 13-9 in the final seven minutes to lock down the 66-56 win.

Carlos Anderson led the Maverick offense with 12 points, while freshman Tre Baumgardner added 10 points off the bench. Sophomore Jamal Nixon hauled in a team-leading six rebounds as well.

As a team, MSU shot 31.3% from the field and 11-of-17 (.647) from the free throw line. The Mavericks also tallied 14 points off of 15 BSU turnovers.

Morgan led all scorers as he tallied 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Cody Landwehr recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

As a unit, Bemidji State shot 42.3% from the field and 15-of-18 from the charity stripe. BSU also held a 46-31 advantage in rebounds.

The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, March 10, and will be streamed on NCAA.com at 9:30 p.m. 

                                                                    -30-