WINONA, Minn. --- #3 Minnesota State controlled the pace throughout Thursday evening in McCown Gymnasium as the Mavericks bested #24 Winona State 89-64.

With the win, MSU improves to 11-0, including a 5-0 NSIC record. With the loss, WSU drops to 7-2, including a 4-2 conference record.

"Tonight was a game where we played an entire 40 minutes of business like basketball," head coach Matt Margenthaler said. "Our mindset has to remain the same to finish out this semester."

The early going of the first half favored the Mavericks as they jumped out to a quick 23-10 lead in the first 9:14 of the game. MSU connected on 9-of-14 (.642) shots from the field. Kyreese Willingham notched nine points during that stretch as he connected on all four of his shots from the field, while Brady Williams added six points.

The Mavericks would continue to increase their lead as they went up by as many as 22 points before taking a 48-27 lead into halftime. As a unit, MSU shot 54.8% (17-of-31) from the field in the opening stanza, including a 5-of-10 showing from downtown. The Mavericks also connected on 9-of-10 attempts from the free throw line.

Malik Willingham led all scorers in the first half with 12 points, while Kyreese Willingham and Elijah Hazekamp each added nine points.

Declan Dillon paced the Warriors in the first half with 10 points, while Connor Dillon notched six points and six rebounds. As a team, WSU shot 35.3% (12-of-34) from the field in the first half, including a 1-of-13 (.077) performance from three point range.
Minnesota State maintained at least a 17-point lead through the first 10 minutes of the second half. Five straight points from the Warriors cut MSU's lead to 17 points with 11:30 to go, but the Mavericks answered with a 7-0 run of their to go back up by 24 at 74-50 with 9:51 left in the game.

The Mavericks would not look back the rest of the way as they led by as many as 32 points down the stretch, before coming away with the 89-64 win.

Hazekamp and Malik Willingham led all scorers with 18 points each. Hazekamp also hauled in six rebounds while Malik Willingham connected on 8-of-9 shots from the line. Kyreese Willingham and Williams each tallied 11 points also, while Dylan Peeters scored 10 points and now sits just six points away from 1,000 for his career.

As a team, MSU shot 54.1% from the field, including a 9-of-20 (.450) showing from downtown. The Mavericks also cashed in on 14-of-16 (.875) shots from the line. MSU hauled in 37 rebounds and enjoyed a 46-34 advantage in points in the paint.

Declan Dillon led the Warriors with 12 points, while Connor Dillon and Jordan Wilkins each tallied 10 points.

As a team, WSU shot 41.0% from the field, including a 6-of-25 (.240) showing from three point range. The Warriors also passed out 10 assists.

Minnesota State returns to action at home this Saturday as it hosts Concordia-St. Paul. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., at Taylor Center.