MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team picked up its third win of the season Friday afternoon in Sioux Falls as the Mavericks bested Jamestown by the score of 85-80.

With the win, MSU improves to 3-4 on the season. With the loss, UJ drops to 3-5 on the season.

"Winning is hard and we grinded out a tough victory," head coach Matt Margenthaler said. "I thought this was a great team win."

By the first media timeout the Mavericks had built a 13-10 lead. Three different Mavericks recorded at least one basket, including senior Justin Eagins who went 3-for-3 from downtown to lead MSU with nine points. MSU eventually went up by 10 at 23-13, but the Jimmies were able to get back within three points of the Mavericks at 23-20 with 9:42 to go in the half.

The Jimmies eventually took the lead at 25-23 after putting together a 12-0 run, but baskets from Eagins and freshman Will Opsahl put the Mavericks back in front 28-25 with 7:43 to go in the half. MSU and UJ would exchange baskets the rest of the way in the first half as Minnesota State took a 43-42 lead into halftime.

Eagins led all scorers in the first half with 16 points as he connected on 4-of-6 shots from three point range. Senior Kyreese Willingham add seven points also. As a team, MSU shot 51.5% from the field in the first half, including a 9-of-14 (.643) showing from three point range.

Jimmy Llinas, Anthony Walters and Ayden Stainbrook each tallied eight points for the Jimmies in the opening stanza. As a team, UJ shot 51.6% from the field in the first half.

The early going of the second half saw the Mavericks go up 53-46 as the Mavericks limited the Jimmies to a 1-of-7 showing from the field in the first five minutes of the second half. MSU continued to add to its lead as it increased its lead to 12 at 69-57 with 9:51 remaining. Four different Mavericks scored during that stretch, including Willingham and junior David Harmon who each tallied four points.

Jamestown was then able to put together a 13-4 run over the next 4:02 to cut MSU's lead to three at 73-70 with 5:18 to go. The Jimmies eventually tied the score at 76-76, but baskets from Willingham and Eagins put MSU back up by five at 81-76 with 1:01 to go. UJ got back within a point in the closing seconds, but clutch free throw shooting from Willingham and senior Harrison Braudis sealed the 85-80 win for the Mavericks.

Eagins led all scorers with 24 points as he connected on 6-of-10 shots from three point range. Eagins also passed out five assists. Willingham tallied 20 points, six rebounds and four assists also, while sophomore Caden Kirkman added 14 points. Braudis hauled in a team-leading nine rebounds also.

As a team, MSU sot 49.3% from the field, including a 12-of-24 (.500) showing from three point range. The Maverick also outrebounded the Jimmies 39-30.

Llinas led Jamestown with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Walters tallied 12 points also.

As a team, UJ shot 46.9% from the field, including a 9-of-29 (.310) showing from long range. The Jimmies also passed out 18 assists.

Minnesota State wraps up the Bill Gross Augustana Classic on Saturday as it takes on the Truman State Bulldogs. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.