MANKATO, Minn. --- It came down to the closing seconds Friday evening in Taylor Center, but it was the University of Mary that was able to outlast Minnesota State as the Marauders claimed the 69-67 win.

With the loss, MSU drops to 13-8, including a 7-8 NSIC record. With the win, UMary improves to 10-9, including a 6-9 conference record.

The Marauders held the lead throughout the whole opening stanza. The game remained within a couple of scores through the first 10 minutes as UMary led 21-15 with 10:57. The Mavericks remained within five points of the Marauders at 31-26 after layups from junior Malik Willingham and sophomore Kyreese Willingham with 3:24 to go in the half.

The Marauders would then close out the half outscoring MSU 7-2 to take a 38-28 lead into halftime.

Malik Willingham led the Mavericks in the first half with 11 points, while senior Trevor Moore posted seven points. As a team, MSU shot 36.7% from the field in the first 20 minutes.
Treyton Mattern led the Marauders in the first half with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists. As a team, UMary shot 45.5% from the field in the first half.

The opening five minutes of the second half saw the Marauders put together a 13-0 run as UMary took a 51-28 lead. Trailing by 26 points, the Mavericks put together a 12-0 run of their own, which included five points from senior Trevor Moore, to cut UMary's lead to 14 at 58-44 with 8:03 to go.

The Mavericks kept chipping away at the Marauder lead, as a four-point play from Moore brought MSU to within one of UMary at 68-67 with eight seconds to go. A Maverick foul sent UMary's Zyon Smith to the line who hit one of two to put UMary up 69-67. The Mavericks would turn the ball over on their next possession but MSU was able to foul with three seconds left.

UMary's Lucas Mayer would miss both his attempts. Kyreese Willingham came up with the rebound and had time to launch a shot from half court but it missed the mark as the Marauders held on to the 69-67 win.

Malik Willingham finished with 26 points and four assists, while Moore added 21 points and three steals. Kyreese Willingham hauled in 11 rebounds, while sophomore Mason Mueller tallied 10 rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 40.6% from the field. The Mavericks also hauled in 39 rebounds.

Mattern led the Marauders with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Kam Warrens notched 15 points and seven rebounds. As a team, UMary shot 44.8% from the field.

Minnesota State continues its homestand on Saturday as it takes on Minot State. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Taylor Center.