SIOUX FALLS, S.D. —- #14 Minnesota State suffered its second loss of the season Friday evening as it fell to Sioux Falls on the road 71-48.

With the loss, MSU drops to 10-2, including a 4-2 NSIC record. With the win, USF improves to 9-3, including a 4-2 conference record.

Both teams led early on in the first half as both teams were tied 7-7 nearly six minutes in. USF would then go on a 10-0 run to go up 17-7 with 11:25 remaining in the half. With just over eight minutes to go USF still maintained its 10-point lead at 21-11.

USF would close out the first half on a 20-10 run to take a 41-21 lead into halftime.

Sophomore Kyreese Willingham led the Mavericks in the first half with nine points and five rebounds. As a team, MSU shot 24.3% from the field.

Kenji Scales led the Cougars in the first half with 11 points and four rebounds. As a team, USF shot 46.9% from the field in the opening stanza.

The first six minutes of the second half saw the Mavericks open with an 11-4 run to cut USF's lead to 13 at 45-32. Sophomores Harrison Braudis and Tyrell Stuttley each netted four points during that stretch. USF then responded with a 12-0 run to go up 57-32 with 10:11 remaining.

The Cougars would lead by at least 18 points the rest of the way as they defeated the Mavericks 71-48.

Kyreese Willingham finished with nine points and eight rebounds, while freshman Malcolm Jones posted eight points and six rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 27.9% from the field. The Mavericks also hauled in 46 rebounds.

Scales led all scorers with 17 points, while Matt Cartwright notched 15 points and seven rebounds.

As a unit, USF shot 39.3% from the field.

Minnesota State finishes its weekend on the road this Saturday as it takes on Southwest Minnesota State. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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