MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State bounced back Saturday evening at in Taylor Center as it defeated the Augustana Vikings by a final score of 89-77.

The Mavericks improved to 11-9 with a conference record of 8-5 after splitting their home games this weekend. With the loss, AU drops to 12-8, including a 7-7 NSIC record.

Freshman Ryland Holt started the game off with an offensive rebound off senior Cameron Kirksey's missed three-point attempt and put the Mavericks on the board 2-0. The Mavericks and Vikings traded baskets throughout the first five minutes of the game, but MSU took the 11-9 advantage heading into the media timeout. Senior Kevin Krieger put the Mavericks up 22-13 with a three-pointer, which led to an Augustana timeout with 10:35 remaining in the first half.

The Mavericks then went on a 12-0 run and led the game 25-13 going into the media timeout, with 9:45 remaining in the first half. After freshman Malik Willingham's three-pointer that put the Mavericks up 28-13, Augustana ended MSU's 15-0 run with a pair of free throws. Sophomore Kelby Kramer scored the Mavericks' next four points with a dunk and layup and put Minnesota State up 32-17 with 6:51 remaining.

Coming out of the media timeout, Augustana made a pair of free throws, cutting the Mavericks lead to 10 points, 35-25. Senior Carter Asche scored the next five points for the Mavericks and gave them the 40-25 lead before the Vikings successfully scored five straight points, leading to an MSU timeout with 2:39 remaining in the first half. Freshman Corvon Seales made a buzzer beater three as time expired heading into halftime, with the Mavericks leading 45-31.

In the first half, it was the Mavericks three-point shooting that allowed them to gain the lead, shooting 9-for-18. The Vikings on the other hand were only able to make two of their 10 attempts. MSU's offense was sharper than the Vikings in the first half, shooting 48.6% from the field, compared to AU's 34.5%. Seales and Krieger led the way for MSU with nine points. Seales was efficient shooting the ball, going 3-for-4 from the field and 1-of-1 from distance. 

Augustana came out the first half with five quick points and cut the Mavericks deficit to nine points, 45-36. Seales back-to-back three's put MSU up 58-45 heading into the media timeout with 14:08 remaining in the second half. At the media timeout with 9:36 remaining, MSU was up on Augustana 65-49. Minnesota State called a timeout with 5:37 remaining in the second half after an Augustana three that cut MSU's lead, 70-63. 

Kirksey scored nine straight points for the Mavericks, with the score being 79-71 with 2:37 remaining in the second half. The Vikings would get no closer as MSU claimed the 89-77 win.

Minnesota State won the battle from distance, shooting 13-of-28, compared to the Vikings who went 6-for-22. MSU concluded the game shooting 45.8% from the field. The Vikings controlled the glass in the contest by a 42-39 margin, with the difference being an eight rebound advantage offensively.
Seales finished the game with a team-high 19 points, shooting an efficient 50% from the field and going 3-of-4 from deep.

The Mavericks had a total of six players in double figures, those being Seales, Kirksey, Asche, Krieger, Kramer and freshman Landon Wolfe.

Minnesota State continues its season on the road this Friday as it takes on the MSU Moorhead Dragons. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

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