MOORHEAD, Minn. —- Minnesota State battled to the end Saturday afternoon on the road but it was #22 MSU Moorhead that was able to come away with the 86-76 win.

With the loss, the Mavericks drop to 13-7, including a 7-7 NSIC record. With the loss, the Dragons improve to 17-3, including a 12-2 conference record.

The first four minutes of the game saw the Mavericks build a 14-8 lead as they connected on their first four shots from downtown, including a 3-for-3 performance by senior Trevor Moore. The lead would change hands six times over the next couple of minutes as the Mavericks led 28-25 with 10:00 remaining in the half.

The Mavericks built an eight-point lead at 38-30 with 6:27 to go in the half, but the Dragons would end the half on a 20-4 run to take a 50-42 lead into halftime.

Sophomore Malik Willingham led the Mavericks in the first half with 16 points, while Moore added nine points. As a team, the Mavericks shot 51.6% from the field in the opening stanza.

Jacob Beeninga led the Dragons in the first half with 23 points as he connected on 8-of-13 shots from the field. As a team, the Dragon shot 50% from the field in the first half.

The second half saw the Dragons build a 15-point lead at 65-50 with 11:47 to go. The Mavericks would respond with a 9-2 run over the next three minutes, including six points from freshman Malcolm Jones, cut the Dragons' lead to eight at 67-59. The Dragons would hold their eight-point lead at 78-70 up to the final media timeout with 4:24 remaining.

The Mavericks would get no closer to the Dragons that six points in the closing minutes as MSU Moorhead locked down the 86-76 win.

Malik Willingham led the Mavericks with 25 points, five rebounds and five assists. Moore added 22 points, including a 4-of-5 showing from long range. Jones finished with 14 points and five rebounds also.

As a team, the Mavericks shot 49.2% from the field, including a 9-of-18 performance from three point land. The Mavericks also hauled in 31 rebounds.

Beeninga led the Dragons with 25 points, while Gavin Baumgartner tallied 23 points and nine assists.

As a team, the Dragons shot 50.8% from the field, including a 13-of-27 showing from three point range.

Minnesota State begins a four-game homestead on Friday as it takes on the University of Mary. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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