DULUTH, Minn. --- #2 Minnesota State suffered its second road loss of the season Tuesday evening as the Mavericks fell to Minnesota Duluth 85-70.

With the loss, MSU drops to 19-2, including a 13-2 NSIC record. With the win, UMD improves to 16-5, including an 11-4 conference record.

"It's tough to win games in this league," head coach Matt Margenthaler said. "We need to refocus and be ready for more tough road games this weekend.

The first half featured 14 lead changes as neither team led by more than six points during the first 20 minutes of play. The Mavericks jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead in the first three minutes, but less than three minutes later, the Bulldogs would respond with a 7-0 run to go up 10-9. Both teams would continue to exchange the lead as they found themselves tied at 23-23 with 10:06 to go in the half.

The lead would change hands six more times in the final 10 minutes of the half as both teams found themselves tied at 43-43 heading into halftime.

Justin Eagins paced the Mavericks in the first half with 11 points as he connected on 5-of-8 shots from the field. Kyreese Willingham added 10 points and four rebounds as well. As a unit, MSU shot 54.5% from the field in the first half, including a 4-of-10 (.400) showing from downtown.

Drew Blair led all scorers in the first half with 13 points, while Austin Andrews tallied 10 points and five rebounds. As a team, UMD shot 47.2% from the field in the first half, including a 6-of-15 (.400) performance from three point range.

The first five minutes of the second half saw the Bulldogs put together a 14-2 run to takes at 57-45 lead with 15:02 to go in the game. UMD connected on 7-of-11 shot from the field during that stretch. The Bulldogs would eventually extend their lead to 19 at 64-45 with 13:30 to go, before an 8-0 run by the Mavericks would cut UMD's lead to 11 at 64-53 just two minutes later.

The Mavericks managed to get back within five points of the Bulldogs at 71-66 with 6:09 to go, but they would get no closer as UMD outscored MSU 14-4 in the final six minutes to claim the 85-70 win.

Kyreese Willingham led the Mavericks with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Malik Willingham tallied 14 points and four rebounds. Eagins added 13 points as well, while Dylan Peeters recorded 10 points.

As a team, MSU shot 48.3% from the field, including a 28.6% showing from three point range. The Mavericks also hauled in 29 rebounds.

Andrews and Charlie Katona led the Bulldogs with 20 points each, with Andrews also hauling in eight rebounds. Blair finished with 19 points and seven rebounds as well.

As a unit, UMD shot 52.2% from the field, including an 11-of-26 (.423) showing from three point range.

Minnesota State continues its season on the road this Friday as it takes on Southwest Minnesota State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at R/A Facility.