MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State held firm in the second half Friday evening at Taylor Center as the Mavericks claimed a 93-90 win over the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles.

With the win, MSU improves to 12-11 on the season, including a 10-7 NSIC record. With the loss, UMC drops to 9-14 including a 5-12 conference record.

The first half saw the Golden Eagles lead throughout as they led by as many as 12 points. A basket from senior Kevin Krieger brought the Mavericks within one point of the Golden Eagles at 21-20 with 11:20 to go, but UMC went on a 17-6 run over the next five minutes to go up by 12 at 38-26.

The Mavericks would chip away at the UMC lead as they finished the half outscoring the Golden Eagles 18-7 to bring the halftime score to 45-44 in favor of the Golden Eagles. 

Freshman Corvon Seales led all scorers in the first half with 16 points, while both freshman Ryland Holt and senior Cameron Kirksey each chipped in with nine points. As a team, MSU shot 48.1% from the field in the first half, to go along with a 14-of-17 (.824) showing from the line.

Harrison Cleary led the Golden Eagles with 13 points in the first half. As a team, UMC shot 45.9% from the field in the opening stanza.

In the second half it was the Mavericks' turn to build a double-digit lead as they led by 11 at 76-65 with 7:01 to go. MSU still led by eight at 84-76 after a three point play from Holt with 3:36 remaining. 

In the closing seconds of the game, the Golden Eagles managed to get within two points of the Mavericks, but MSU would convert on six free throw attempts in the final 18 seconds to lock down their 93-90 win.

Holt finished the game with a season-high 24 points and nine rebounds as he shot 7-of-11 from the field and 9-of-12 from the line. Seales added a season-high 20 points of his own. Krieger and sophomore Kelby Kramer each tallied 15 points, while Kirksey finished with 14 points.

As a unit, MSU shot 54.7% from the field, including a 9-of-21 (.429) showing from three point range. The Mavericks also connected on 26-of-37 (.703) free throw attempts. 

Cleary led all scorers with 33 points and seven assists. Malcolm Cohen added 14 points also. As a team, UMC shot 45.2% from the field, including a 14-of-34 (.412) showing from downtown.

The Mavericks wrap up their homestand on Saturday as they host the Bemidji State Beavers at Taylor Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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