KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- Minnesota State finished the Central Region Challenge on a high note Sunday afternoon as it bested the Lincoln Blue Tigers by the score of 92-69. 

With the win, MSU improves to 2-0 on the season, while LU drops to 0-2.

The first half featured a balanced attack from Minnesota State as nine players recorded at least one basket. As a unit, the Mavericks shot 18-of-30 (.600) from the field in the opening stanza. MSU also enjoyed a 20-13 advantage in rebounds.

It did not take long for the Mavericks to build their first double-digit lead of the game as a free throw from sophomore Shawn Hopkins put MSU up 16-6 with 12:31 to go in the half. Leading 22-14 with just over eight minutes to play in the half, MSU began a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to go up 34-14 as five different Mavericks recorded a basket. Minnesota State would increase its lead to 22 points at 45-23, but back-to-back three pointers by the Blue Tigers in the closing seconds of the half cut MSU's halftime lead to 45-29.

Sophomores Malik Willingham and Quincy Anderson led all scorers in the first half with eight points, while junior Devonte Thedford tallied seven points. Eight Mavericks also hauled in at least two rebounds.

In the second half the Blue Tigers managed to get back within 12 points of the Mavericks twice but they would get no closer as MSU continued to dominate the pace, leading by as many as 28 points, en route to a 92-69 win.

As a team, Minnesota State finished the day shooting 38-of-59 (.644) from the field. This is the 24th time under head coach Matt Margenthaler that the Mavericks have shot 60% or better from the field. MSU's 64.4 shooting percentage from the field also ties the third-highest shooting percentage under Margenthaler.

The Mavericks also hauled in 32 rebound and passed out 14 assists. MSU outscored LU 40-14 in paint and scored 26 points off of 14 Blue Tiger turnovers. The Maverick bench also tallied 30 points.

Thedford led all scorers with 18 points, while Anderson tallied 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Freshman Brady Williams tallied 11 points as well, while Malik Willingham notched 10 points and four assists.

Chuck Wilson and Derrick Woods each led LU with 17 points, while John Gaines tallied nine points. As a team, Lincoln shot 42.4% from the field, to go along with an 11-of-12 (.917) performance from the free throw line.

Minnesota State opens its home schedule on Saturday as it hosts St. Cloud State in a nonconference game. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., at Taylor Center.

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