MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State opened NSIC action in fine form Tuesday evening in Taylor Center as the Mavericks bested Concordia-St. Paul 96-78.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 6-0 on the season, including a 1-0 NSIC record. With the loss, the Golden Bears drop to 1-4, including a 0-1 conference record.

The first five minutes saw the Golden Bears build an eight-point lead at 16-8. The Mavericks would chip away at CSP's lead over the next seven minutes before a jump shot from senior Trevor Moore tied the game at 25-25 with 8:17 to go in the half.

The lead would exchange hands three times in the final eight minutes of the half as the Mavericks carried a 40-37 lead into halftime.

Junior Malik Willingham led all scorers in the first half with 18 points as he connected on 4-of-6 shots from downtown. Senior Kelby Kramer added six points and five rebounds as well. As a unit, MSU shot 45.5% from the field in the first half.

Jacob Everson led the Golden Bears in the first half with 11 points, while Antwan Kimmons tallied 10 points, five assists and five steals.

The Maverick lead would remain within 10 points through the first 8:59 of the second half, before a jumper from Malik Willingham put MSU by 11 at 65-54. MSU would go on to build a 19-point lead at 86-76 with 4:21 to go and it would not look back as it closed out the game with a 96-78 win.

Malik Willingham finished his night with a career-high 41 points as he connected on 8-of-11 shots from downtown. He is the first Maverick to net at least 40 points in a game since Cameron Kirksey tallied 43 points against MSU Moorhead back on Feb. 1, 2019. Willingham also hauled in five rebounds and passed out four assists.

Sophomores Harrison Braudis and Tyrell Stuttley each tallied 11 points as well, while senior Kelby Kramer notched eight rebounds. As a team, MSU shot 50.8% from the field, including a 12-of-24 showing from three point range. The Mavericks also outrebounded the Golden Bears 37-28.

CSP was led by Kimmons who tallied 34 points, six assists and six steals. Everson tallied 13 points and five rebounds also. As a team, CSP shot 49.1% from the field, including a 12-of-29 showing from three point range.

Minnesota State continues its homestand on Saturday as it takes on Bethany Lutheran College. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., at Taylor Center.