MARSHALL, Minn. --- #1 Minnesota State suffered its fourth loss of the season Saturday evening on the road as the Mavericks fell to Southwest Minnesota State 81-68 in a nonconference game.

With the loss, MSU drops to 1-4 on the season. With the win, SMSU improves to 3-0 on the season.

"We have been in a tough stretch of games and haven't responded the way we thought we would," head coach Matt Margenthaler said. "We will get back to practice and get better."

The early going of the game saw the Mustangs build a 28-15 lead with 9:29 remaining in the half. Senior Justin Eagins and junior Malcolm Jones each tallied six points for MSU, but SMSU shot 12-of-19 from the field during the opening stretch.

The final nine minutes of the half saw the Mustangs outscore the Mavericks 23-21. Sophomore Caden Kirkman and freshman Will Opsahl each posted six points in the final nine minutes of the first half as SMSU carried a 51-36 lead into the locker room.

Jones led the Maverick offense in the first half with 10 points, while Opsahl tallied nine points. As a team, MSU shot 15-of-33 (.455) from the field in the first half, including a 6-of-15 (.400) performance from downtown.

Aeron Stevens led all scorers in the first half with 16 points, while Dunwa Omot tallied 13 points. As a unit, SMSU shot 20-of-33 (.606) from the field in the opening stanza, including a 7-of-12 (.563) showing from long range.

By the midpoint of the second half the Mustangs held a 16-point lead at 64-48. Four different Mavericks scored in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, including junior David Harmon who notched six points. MSU would then put together a 12-6 run over the next 3:47 to cut SMSU's lead to 10 at 70-60 with 6:13 to go.

That was as close as the Mavericks would get as the Mustangs finished the game on an 11-8 run to lock down the 81-68 win.

Jones led the Mavericks with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Opsahl and Kirkman both added 12 points of their own, with Kirkman also hauling in eight boards. Eagins finished with 11 points and two steals as well.
As a team, MSU shot 28-of-66 (.424) from the field, including a 7-of-26 (.269) showing from three point range. The Mavericks also hauled in 36 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards.

Stevens finished with 25 points and six rebounds for the Mustangs, while Omot added 21 points and three blocks.

As a unit, SMSU shot 30-of-61 (.492) from the field, including a 10-of-18 (.556) performance from three point range. The Mustangs also connected on 11-of-12 shots from the free throw line.

Minnesota State opens is home schedule on Saturday, Nov. 23, as it hosts Minnesota Morris. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Taylor Center.