WAYNE, Neb. --- Extra time was needed on the road Saturday evening but it was Minnesota State that was able to come away with the 72-70 overtime win over Wayne State.

With the win, MSU improves to 14-12 on the season, including a 12-8 NSIC record. With the loss, WSC drops to 10-19, including a 7-13 conference record. This is the third time MSU has gone into overtime this season. 

The first half proved to be a defensive battle as the Mavericks carried a 30-23 lead into the locker room.

Senior Cameron Kirksey led all scorers in the first half with 11 points, to go along with five rebounds. Sophomore Kelby Kramer added seven points, 10 rebounds and three blocks also. As a team, MSU shot 35.5% from the field in the opening stanza.

Nate Mohr led the Wildcats with nine points in the first half, while Jordan Janssen hauled in eight rebounds. As a team, WSC shot 23.5% from the field in the first half.

Neither team led by more than seven points throughout the first 20 minutes of the game. As the game reach the mid point of the first half, WSC held a 16-14 lead with 10:04 to go in the half. A three pointer for Mohr two minutes later would give the Wildcats their largest lead of the half at 19-14. 

The final eight minutes of the half would see the Mavericks go on a 16-4 run, which including five points from senior Kevin Krieger who hit two free throws and a three pointer, to put MSU up 30-23 at the end of the half.

With just over nine minutes to go in the second half the Mavericks built their largest lead of the game as they led by 11 at 47-46. WSC was then able to respond with an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to knot up the score at 47-47. Neither team would lead by more than three points the rest of the way in the second half.

MSU held a two point lead at 61-59 after a free throw from Krieger with 20 seconds to go, but a layup from Janssen with seven seconds to go would send the game into overtime.

The Mavericks did not waste a second as they scored the first seven points in overtime to go up 68-61 with 2:42 to go. WSC was able to go on a 7-0 run to knot up the score at 68-68 with 40 seconds remaining, but MSU freshman Corvon Seales would hit a jumper and a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to lock down MSU's 72-70 victory. 

Kirksey finished the game with his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Kramer notched his seventh double-double of the season also as he posted 13 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, to go with six blocks. Krieger recorded 16 points also, while Seales tallied eight points and five assists.

As a team, MSU shot 37.9% from the field, to go along with a 20-of-27 (.741) showing from the line. 

Janssen finished his night with 15 points and 18 rebounds for the Wildcats, while Nick Ferrarini posted 13 points and six rebounds.

As a team, WSC shot 29.6% from the field. The Wildcats also enjoyed a 56-48 advantage in rebounds.

Minnesota State returns to Taylor Center Friday to take on the Upper Iowa Peacocks. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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