KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- #1 Minnesota State opened the Central Region Challenge with a win Friday afternoon in Kansas City as the Mavericks bested Southern Arkansas 71-67.

With the win, MSU improves to 1-2 on the season. With the loss, SAU drops to 0-1 on the season.

"This was a win that we had to get," head coach Matt Margenthaler said. "I thought our guys did a great job of paying attention to the little details and willed ourselves to get this win."

The Mavericks jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead early as senior Kyreese Willingham notched seven of MSU's 10 points through the first 2:13 of the game. MSU maintained its lead through the 10 minute media timeout as the Mavericks led 22-19, while shooting 9-of-18 from the field.

The Muleriders put together a 9-0 run to take a 26-22 lead with 8:06 to go in the half, but over the next three minutes the Mavericks responded with an 11-0 run of their own to retake the lead at 33-26 with 2:25 to go. The Muleriders battled back in the closing minutes of the half with a 9-2 run to bring the halftime score to 35-35.

Willingham led the Mavericks with 10 points in the first half, while freshman Will Opsahl and senior Harrison Braudis each tallied five points. As a team, MSU shot 12-of-30 (.400) from the field in the first half. The Mavericks also enjoyed a 22-14 advantage in rebounds.

Kris Cook led SAU in the first half with 12 points, while BJ Davis tallied eight points. As a team, SAU shot 13-of-30 (.433) from the field in the first half.

The first 10 minutes of the second half saw five lead changes as neither team led by more than five points. The Muleriders built a four-point lead at 48-46, only to see the Mavericks put together a 9-2 run of its own, including baskets from four different players, to go up 55-50 with 10:17 to go.

The Muleriders managed to get back within one point of the Mavericks on three occasions down the stretch but a layup from Willingham and a pair of free throws from senior Justin Eagins in the final minute erased any hope of a comeback as Minnesota State claimed the 71-67 win.

Willingham led the Maverick offense with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Eagins finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Opsahl notched seven points and seven rebounds also, while sophomore Caden Kirkman finished with eight points and six rebounds.

As a unit, the Mavericks outrebounded the Muleriders 49-30, including a 21-10 advantage in offensive boards which saw MSU come away with 21 second chance points. MSU shot 40.9% from the field, to go along with an 11-of-13 (.846) showing from the free throw line.

Cook led all scorers with 21 points, while Rashad Bishop finished with 12 points.

As a team, SAU shot 41.3% from the field, including a 2-of-23 (.087) showing from three point range.  

Minnesota State wraps up the Central Region Challenge on Saturday as it takes on #10 Washburn. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.