Photo courtesy of Terry Cartie Norton

DULUTH, Minn. --- Minnesota State handed Minnesota Duluth its first home loss of the season Friday evening in Romano Gymnasium as the Mavericks bested the Bulldogs 67-65.

With the win, MSU improves to 9-8 on the season, including a 7-4 NSIC record. With the loss, UMD drops to 13-4, including an 8-3 conference record. The Mavericks have now won six of their last seven games.

The first half proved to be a close affair early on as neither team led by more than three points during the first 16 minutes of the game. MSU held a 22-19 lead after a jumper from freshman Ryland Holt with 7:28 to go in the half, but a three pointer from Logan Rohscheib knotted up the score at 22-22 with 6:42 to go.

A three pointer from freshman Corvon Seales with 5:35 to go in the opening stanza began an 11-0 run that ended as time expired in the first half. Senior Kelby Kramer added a layup, before junior Jamal Nixon and senior Kevin Krieger each connected on a three pointer of their own as the Mavericks took a 33-22 lead into the locker room.

Kramer led all scorers in the first half with 10 points and six rebounds, while Krieger tallied six points and four rebounds. The Mavericks also enjoyed a 26-18 advantage in rebounds in the first half as they tallied 16 of their 33 points in the paint.

Drew Blair led the Bulldog offense in the first half with six points.

Halfway through the second half the Mavericks still held their 11-point lead at 50-39. UMD managed to bring it within eight points of the Mavericks, but a three pointer from freshman Malik Willingham put MSU back up by 11 at 59-48 with 5:38 to go. The Bulldogs then went on a 7-0 run to pull within four points of MSU, but back-to-back jumpers from Seales put the Mavericks back up by eight at 63-55 with 1:21 to go.

The Bulldogs managed to get within one point of the Mavericks with five seconds left, but they would not overcome MSU. Krieger connected on one of two free throws with two seconds left before UMD's last second three fell short as MSU claimed the 67-65 win.

Kramer finished the game with his fourth double-double of the season as he tallied a team-leading 16 points and 14 rebounds. Krieger added 15 points of his own, while Seales notched 14 points.

As a team, MSU shot 40.6% from the field and enjoyed a 44-33 advantage in rebounds. 

Blair led all scorers with 21 points, while Alex Illikainen notched 13 points. As a unit, UMD shot 33.9% from the field, including a 7-of-28 (.250) from three point range.

Minnesota State wraps up its road trip this Saturday as it takes on the St. Cloud State Huskies. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

                                                                    -30-