BEMIDJI, Minn. --- It came down to overtime Friday evening, but it was #2 Minnesota State that was able to come away with the road victory as the Mavericks bested Bemidji State 94-92.

With the win, MSU improves to 15-0 on the season, including a 9-0 NSIC record. With the loss, BSU drops to 9-6, including a 5-4 conference record. MSU's two overtime victories this season are the most since the 2018-19 season when the Mavericks won three games in overtime.

"Tonight we didn't play our best but we found a way to win and that's exactly what we needed to do," head coach Matt Margenthaler said.

The early going of the first half favored the Beavers as they built a 27-20 lead in the first 10 minutes. The Beavers connected on 8-of-13 (.615) of their shots as they were led by BJ Davis who notched 11 points. The Mavericks 9-of-19 (.473) during the first 10 minutes of the game as seven players reached the scoring column, including Kyreese Willingham who notched five points.

Bemidji managed to build a 10-point lead at 34-24, but MSU answered with a pair of back-to-back three pointers from Justin Eagins and Malik Willingham brought the Mavericks back within four at 34-30 just one minute later. BSU still led by five in the final minute of the half but five points from Eagins, including a three pointer with five seconds left, would send the game into halftime tied at 42-42.

Eagins led the Maverick offense in the first half with 14 points, while Kyreese Willingham and Elijah Hazekamp each netted seven points. As a team, MSU shot 41.0 % from the field in the opening stanza.
Davis led the Beavers with 11 points in the first half, while John Sutherland added eight points. As a team, BSU shot 48.3% from the field in the first half.

By the midpoint of the second half the game remained close as BSU held a 63-62 lead. The Beavers managed to go up by four at 66-62 with 9:58 to go, but MSU would put together a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to go up by five at 71-66 with 7:34 to go.

Trailing 80-77, BSU then put together a 9-0 run of its own to go up by six at 86-80 with 1:05 remaining in the second half. MSU would not go quietly though as baskets from Hazekamp and Dylan Peeters cut BSU's lead to two with :46 left. Davis would connect on a pair of free throws with :36 to go, but two free throw and a layup from Malik Willingham would tie the game back up at 88-88 with :25 to go in the second half. BSU's game winning shot missed the mark as the game went into overtime.

There was little scoring in the first two minutes of overtime, as with three minutes left to play, the only score was a Bemidji State free throw, making the score 89-88. Kyreese Willingham hit a tough layup to make the score 90-89 in favor of MSU. The Beavers then hit a free throw, missed the second, but Tate Olson tipped in the miss, giving Bemidji State a 92-90 lead.

The Mavericks then went back down the court and Peeters made a layup to tie the game at 92-92. After Minnesota State got a stop on defense, Malik Willingham, as he did near the end of regulation, made another tightly contested layup to give the Mavericks a two-point lead with 13 seconds left in OT at 94-92. The Beavers missed two last second shots, giving the Mavericks the victory, with a final score of 94-92.

Malik Willingham finished with a game-high 28 points, just one shy of his season-high against Minnesota Duluth earlier this season. Eagins added 16 points and six assists, while Hazekamp tallied 12 points and nine rebounds. Kyreese Willingham notched 13 points also, while Peeters finished his night with 11 points and nine rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 46.2% from the field. The Mavericks also hauled in 43 rebounds and forced 10 BSU turnovers.

Davis led the Beavers with 22 points, while Sutherland added 21 points and eight rebounds. Olson posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as well.

As a unit, BSU shot 45.1% from the field. The Beavers recorded 46 rebounds and passed out 21 assists.

Minnesota State continues its road trip on Saturday as it takes on Minnesota Crookston. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., at Lysaker Gymnasium.