MANKATO, Minn. --- The game needed extra time to reach an outcome Thursday evening in Taylor Center but it was #17 Minnesota State that was able to come away with the overtime victory as it bested #19 Upper Iowa 98-96.

With the win, MSU improves to 7-0 on the season, including a 2-0 NSIC record. With the loss, UIU drops to 6-1, including a 1-1 conference record.

The first half saw a close game as neither team led by more than nine points in the opening stanza. Halfway through the half, the Mavericks trailed the Peacocks 22-18 after freshman Brady Williams connected on one of two free throws. 

The Peacocks then went on a 10-5 run over the next 3:39 to go up by nine at 32-23. MSU would then respond with a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to go up 37-34. The Peacocks would get the final five points of the half as UIU carried a 39-37 lead into the locker room.

Sophomore Quincy Anderson led all scorers in the first half with 19 points and five rebounds, while junior Devonte Thedford tallied six points. As a team, MSU shot 41.4% from the field in the first half.

Jake Hilmer led the UIU offense with 12 points and four rebounds in the first half. As a team, UIU shot 38.2% from the field in the first half.

The game remained within a few scores through the first 10 minutes of the second half as UIU held a six-point lead at 63-57 with 9:29 to go. Over the next four minutes MSU would put together a 15-9 run, which included seven points from Thedford, to knot up the score at 72-72. The Mavericks eventually built a four-point lead at 84-80 with 1:52 to go in the half, but Hilmer was able to drain two baskets for the Peacocks in the closing minutes to send the game into overtime tied 84-84.

The first three minutes of overtime saw the Mavericks build a six point lead at 92-86 as Anderson notched four points, while Williams and sophomore Malik Willingham each tallied a basket of their own. The Peacocks got back within one of the Mavericks at 93-92 with 1:06 to go in overtime, but they would get no closer as a basket from freshman Kyreese Willingham and free throws from Thedford and Anderson locked down MSU's 98-96 win.

Anderson notched his fourth career double-double as he tallied a career-high 35 points, to go along with 10 rebounds. Thedford matched his career-high with 24 points, while he tallied six rebounds and two blocks. Williams finished with 12 points and eight rebounds as well, while sophomore Ryland Holt scored 10 points and passed out three assists.

As a team, MSU shot 49.3% from the field. The Mavericks also hauled in 44 rebounds and blocked six shots.

Joe Smoldt paced the UIU offense with 28 points, while Hilmer finished with 22 points, which including a 12-of-12 showing from the line. Jareese Williams tallied 21 points also.
As a team, Upper Iowa shot 40.3% from the field, to go along with a 29-of-30 (.967) performance from the free throw line.

Minnesota State continues its season on the road this Saturday as it takes on the Winona State Warriors. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.


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