MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team bounced back Saturday afternoon in Taylor Center as it bested the Winona State Warriors 89-64.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 8-4, including a 7-3 NSIC record. With the loss, WSU drops to 4-5, including a 2-4 conference record.

The first half proved to be similar to the first half in their previous game as both teams shot the lights out. The Mavericks led throughout the majority of the first half as they shot 60.7% from the field in the opening 20 minutes. 

MSU built its largest lead of the first half at 16-6 with 14:43 to go after a layup from sophomore Quincy Anderson. The Warriors managed to claw their way back and eventually knotted up the score at 37-37 with 1:29 to go in the half, but a layup from Anderson and a three pointer from junior Devonte Thedford gave the Mavericks a 42-37 lead heading into the locker room.

Anderson led the MSU offense in the first half with 13 points, while sophomore Malik Willingham and freshman Brady Williams each tallied eight points.

Kevion Taylor led all scorers in the first half with 23 points as he connected on 7-of-9 shots from downtown.

The Warriors managed to get back within two points of the Mavericks early on in the second half at 44-42 but they would get no closer. The Mavericks would increase their lead to as many as 25 points as they eventually came away with an 89-64 win to split the weekend series.

Anderson led all scorers with a career-high 31 points, with 18 points coming in the second half. Anderson is the first Maverick to reach the 30 point plateau since Cameron Kirksey scored 30 points against Upper Iowa back on Feb. 22, 2020. Anderson shot 12-of-19 from the field and hauled in six rebounds.

Willingham added 17 points also, while Williams tallied 11 points off the bench. Thedford finished his day with seven points and a season-best nine assists.

As a unit, MSU shot 58.6% from the field, including a 15-of-26 (.577) performance from behind the arc. The Mavericks also outrebounded the Warriors 36-22 and passed out 20 assists.

Taylor led the Warrior offense with 25 points, with only two points coming in the second half. As a team, WSU shot 44.1% from the field.

Minnesota State begins a four-game road trip to wrap up its regular season schedule next weekend as it takes on the Upper Iowa Peacocks. Friday's tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., with Saturday's start time set for 2:00 p.m.


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