ST. PAUL, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team had a close one on  Saturday afternoon on the road but the Mavericks were able to finish their sweep of Concordia-St. Paul with a 93-89 win.

With the win, MSU improves to 10-6 on the season, including a 9-5 NSIC record. With the loss, CSP drops to 1-13, including a 0-10 conference record.

The Mavericks opened up a double-digit lead quickly in the first half as they led 13-2 with 15:23 remaining in the half. All five Maverick starters recorded a basket during that run, with sophomore Quincy Anderson leading the way with five points. MSU continue to lead by at least 10 points until the midpoint of the opening stanza as it held a 26-13 lead with 9:55 to go.

The Golden Bears managed to get back within nine points of the Mavericks at 31-22 with 7:18 to go in the half, but MSU would outscore CSP 22-16 in the final seven minutes to take a 53-38 lead into the locker room.

Seven Mavericks tallied at least five points in the first half, including junior Devonte Thedford who led the Maverick offense with 10 points. Sophomore Ryland Holt added nine points and four rebounds also, while junior Kelby Kramer hauled in 12 rebounds. As a team, MSU shot 61.1% from the field in the first half, including an 8-of-13 (.615) performance from three point range.

Caden Hoffman led the CSP offense in the first half with 12 points. As a team, the Golden Bears shot 57.1% from the field in the first half.

In the second half the Mavericks built their largest lead of the game at 22 points as they led 80-58 with 11:31 to go in the game. The Golden Bears then responded with a 20-5 run to cut the Maverick lead to seven points at 85-78 with 4:46 to go.

The Golden Bears managed to get back within two points of the Mavericks at 91-89 with :32 to go in the game, but a pair of free throws from Thedford put the game out of reach for CSP as MSU held  on to the 93-89 win.

Thedford led all scorers with a season-high 24 points. Holt added 20 points and four rebounds also, while Anderson notched 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Kramer finished with 17 rebounds, just two shy of his career-high. As a team, MSU shot 54% from the field, including a 9-of-20 (.450) clip from long range. The Mavericks also outrebounded the Golden Bears 38-27.

Hoffman led the Golden Bears with 21 points, while Carlos Barela tallied 19 points. As a unit, CSP shot 54.8% from the field

Minnesota State continues its season this Friday in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament as it takes on the MSU Moorhead Dragons. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

                                                                    -30-