VALDOSTA, Ga. --- Minnesota State's NCAA Tournament run came to an end Saturday afternoon in Valdosta, Ga., as the Mavericks fell to the Valdosta State Blazers by the score of 35-21.

With the loss, MSU finishes its season with an 11-4 record. With the win, VSU improves to 13-0 and will take on the winner of the game between Ferris State and Slippery Rock in the NCAA Championship game on Dec. 21.

The game began with both teams combining to take up nearly 18 minutes on their opening drives. Valdosta State started on its own 42 and then went 58 yards down field in 9:54 to take a 7-0 lead. The drive ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from Sammy Edwards to Alfonso Franklin.

MSU responded on its opening drive as the Mavericks took 8:47 off the clock before reaching the end zone. Minnesota State marched 77 yards down field before freshman Sam Backer forced his way into the end zone from the one yard line to tie the game at 7-7 with 11:03 to go in the second quarter.

Valdosta State added another touchdown on its second drive of the game as the Blazers marched down to the MSU 18, before Edwards connected with Franklin on an 18-yard touchdown pass to put VSU up 14-7 with 7:27 to go.

On their following drive, the Mavericks managed to get down to the VSU 30 to set up a 47-yard field goal attempt but the try missed wide left as the Blazers carried a 14-7 lead into halftime.

VSU recorded 160 yards of offense in the first half, while the Mavericks notched 120 yards, including 86 yards through the air. MSU also converted on 7-of-8 attempts on third down, while the Blazers converted on 5-of-7 third down tries.

MSU wasted little time on the opening drive of the third quarter as the Mavericks only need two plays to tie the score at 14-14. After a six-yard pass put MSU on its own 31, Backer raced 69 yards down field for the touchdown with 14:14 to go in the third quarter.

Valdosta state was able to add two more touchdowns in the third quarter to go up 28-14 with 1:21 to go in the third quarter. Franklin finished off a pair of Blazer scoring drives with seven and 10-yard touchdown carries.

Trailing 28-14, MSU answered right back in the fourth quarter as it capped off a 63-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass from senior Hayden Ekern to junior Isaiah Emanuel to cut VSU's lead to 28-21 with 10:56 to go. With the touchdown pass, Ekern became MSU's all-time career leader in touchdown passes with 73.

The Mavericks forced the Blazers to punt on each of their next two drives, but VSU able to pin MSU back inside its own 10 after each punt. The Mavericks were then forced to punt with 3:37 to go as Valdosta State took over on its own 42. Five plays later, VSU went back up by two scores as Franklin notched a 24-yard touchdown run to put the Blazers up 35-21 with 1:51 to go.

A VSU interception on MSU's following drive with 44 seconds to go locked down the 35-21 win for Valdosta State.

Ekern finished his day completing 14 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. Eight different Mavericks caught a pass, including junior Grant Guyett who led the Mavericks with 47 receiving yards.

Backer notched his fourth 100 rushing yard game of his career as he tallied 109 yards on the ground, to go along with two touchdowns. Senior Christian Vasser posted 67 rushing yards also.

Senior Antonio Alzheimer led the Maverick defense with seven tackles, while both senior Lorenzo Jones and sophomore Jamal Spiyee tallied five tackles.

For VSU, Franklin finished his day with 152 rushing yards and three touchdown carries. Franklin also led the VSU receivers with 66 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. Edwards finished his day with 172 passing yards and two touchdown passes.

Larry Elder led the Valdosta State defense with nine tackles, while Joko Willis tallied eight tackles, including one for a loss.