MANKATO, Minn. --- #4 Minnesota State kept its undefeated record intact Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium as the Mavericks bested the Western Oregon Wolves by the score of 45-14.

With the win, MSU improves to 7-0 on the season. With the loss, WOU drops to 3-4. Minnesota State's win over Western Oregon is its first regular season nonconference win since the 2010 season when it defeated Northern Michigan 7-6 at Blakeslee Stadium.

The Mavericks put together three scoring drives in the first half to take a 17-0 lead into halftime.

Junior Matthew Jaeger connected on a 25-yard field goal on MSU's opening drive of the game. MSU would then finish the first quarter with an 11-play drive that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from junior Shen Butler-Lawson to put the Mavericks up 10-0. With 5:18 to go in the second quarter junior Hayden Ekern hooked up with freshman Mason Perich on a 13-yard touchdown pass to put MSU 17-0.

Special teams would get the Wolves on the board early in the third quarter as Tyler Copeland blocked a Maverick punt, before Nino Gama returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to cut MSU's lead to 17-7. The Mavericks would respond with two more touchdowns of their own in the third quarter to take a 31-7 lead. Ekern connected with sophomore Grant Guyett on a 27-yard touchdown pass, before hooked up with junior Tony Anger on a one-yard touchdown pass.

WOU's Austin Bacher notched a 29-yard touchdown run with 12:01 to go in the game to get the Wolves within 17 of the Mavericks at 31-14, but they would get no closer as MSU notched two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lock down the 45-14 win.

Ekern completed his fourth touchdown pass of the game with 9:36 to go as he connected with sophomore TreShawn Watson on a 25-yard touchdown pass. On its next drive WOU managed to drive down to the MSU 21 but, junior Khai West intercepted a pass in the end zone and ran it all the way back for a touchdown. West's 100-yard pick six matched the previous record set by Jordan Malone during the 2003 season against Augustana.

Ekern finished his day completing 17-of-27 passes for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Watson, Guyett, Perich and Anger each caught a touchdown pass, with Watson leading all Maverick receivers with 57 points.

Junior Christian Vasser led the Maverick rushing attack with 90 yards, while Butler-Lawson recorded 66 yards. Butler-Lawson has now rushed for 1,026 yards this season.

Senior Zack MacIntire and sophomore Colton Hoffman each led the Maverick defense with five tackles. Senior Trey Vaval and West each recorded an interception, while junior Maven Kretche recorded a sack. In total, the Maverick defense allowed just seven points and 13 first downs, to go along with 296 yards of total offense.

Minnesota State resumes NSIC action on the road as it takes on Augustana. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., at Kirkeby-Over Stadium. The Mavericks and the Vikings are the two remaining
undefeated teams at 7-0 in the NSIC.