MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State staged another rally in the fourth quarter Saturday to defeat Bemidji State 27-23 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

With the win, MSU improves to 11-3 on the season. With the loss, BSU finishes its season with a 10-4 record. Minnesota State will now travel to Valdosta, Ga., to take on Valdosta State in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. (CT) and will be aired on ESPN+.

This marks the fifth time in team history that the Mavericks have advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament with the previous times coming in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019. This is also the third time in team history that the Mavericks have won three playoff games in the same season, with the previous two instances coming during the 2014 and 2019 seasons.

The lone score of the first quarter came on Bemidji State's opening drive as the Beavers drove all the way down to the MSU 20 before setting up for a 44-yard field goal. Connor Mantelli's kick split the uprights to put BSU up 3-0 with 6:22 to go in the quarter.

The second quarter saw both teams reach the endzone twice as BSU carried a 17-14 lead into halftime. BSU scored the first touchdown of the game with 6:28 to go in the second quarter as Sam McGath connected with Drayton Lehman on a 10-yard touchdown pass, before MSU responded just over three minutes later with a six-yard touchdown run from freshman Sam Backer.

A 46-yard kick return by Lehman set up the Beavers on the MSU 41. Five plays later, Connor Carver forced his way into the endzone from 10 yards out to put BSU up 17-7 with 1:03 to go in the half. Starting on their own 32, the Mavericks proceeded to march down the field via a pair of passes from senior Hayden Ekern to junior Grant Guyett, including a 39-yard pass that set MSU up on the BSU 12. On third down, Ekern was able to rush his way into the endzone from 12 yards out to cut BSU's lead to 17-14 as the teams went into the locker room.

After both teams failed to score on their opening drives in the third quarter, Bemidji State took over on its own two yard line with 10:52 to go in the quarter. A pair of runs and a pass moved BSU up to its own 23, before Carver rushed to the left and raced 77 yards down the field for the touchdown. BSU's extra point attempt was blocked as the Beavers led 23-14.

Starting on their own 15, the Mavericks went 85 yards down field to collect their second touchdown of the game to cut BSU's lead to 23-21. MSU did most of its damage on the ground as it worked its way up to the BSU eight yard line, before Ekern connected with junior TreShawn Watson on the eight-yard touchdown pass. With the touchdown pass, Ekern is now tied with Ben King for the all-time lead in career touchdown passes at Minnesota State with 72.

BSU's next drive continued on into the fourth quarter as the Beavers marched 72 yards down to the MSU three yard line. With the third and three BSU elected to have Carver rush up the middle, but on the carry the Mavericks forced a fumble that was picked up MSU senior Lorenzo Jones who then returned it 81 yards down field to the BSU 16 with 12:39 to go.

Five plays later Ekern recorded his second touchdown carry of the game, this time from one yard out, to put MSU in front for the first time at 27-23. MSU's two-point conversion try failed as the Mavericks led by four with 11:07 to go.

The Beavers managed one first down on their next drive before they were forced to punt the ball away. With 7:33 to go, MSU's following drive consisted of 12 plays that went 43 yards over the next 6:33. After forcing BSU to use its remaining timeouts, MSU attempted to win the game on a fourth and two at the BSU 36, but the Beavers were able to stop the Mavericks on the BSU 37 to take over on downs with 1:00 to go.

The Beavers managed to get all the way down to the MSU four yard line but the Maverick defense held firm as seniors Cody Brown and Micah Brown each broke up passes, with Micah's coming on fourth down, to end BSU's comeback bid as the Mavericks held on to the 27-23 win.

Ekern finished his day with 135 passing yards and a touchdown. Watson finished with 69 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Guyett notched 59 receiving yards.

As a unit, MSU rushed for 237 yards, with 96 of those coming from senior Christian Vasser. Backer added 79 rushing yards, while Ekern posted 62.

Sophomore Jamal Spiyee and senior Antonio Alzheimer each recorded five tackles. With his five tackles, Alzheimer became the first Mavericks to reach 100 tackles in a season since Tyler Henderson did so back in 2014.