ABERDEEN, S.D. --- It came down to the closing seconds Saturday evening, but a game-winning basket from Malik Willingham with 3.5 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in Minnesota State's 85-83 win over Northern State. The Mavericks have now claimed at least a share of the NSIC regular season championship.

With the win, MSU improves to 24-2 on the season, including an 18-2 NSIC record. With the loss, NSU drops 10-16, including an 8-12 conference record.

"Good victory for our program tonight," head coach Matt Margenthaler said. "We knew to win a conference championship we had to go through last year's conference champs. We're looking forward to being home next weekend to finish the deal."

The first half saw the lead change hands eight times as neither team led by seven points though the opening 20 minutes. The Mavericks jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead, but the Wolves wasted no time putting together a 9-2 run of their own to knot up the score at 11-11 with 15:08 to go in the half.

NSU would then go on a 21-14 run over the next 6:27 to take a seven point lead at 32-25 with 8:28 to go in the half. The Mavericks would work their way back though as they outscored the Wolves 26-16 in the final 8:16 of the half to take a 51-48 lead into halftime. Brady Williams notched all eight of his first half points during that stretch, while Dylan Peeters recorded seven points.

Malik Willingham led the Maverick offense in the first half with 11 points, while Elijah Hazekamp tallied 10 points. As a team, MSU shot 57.1% from the field in the first half, including a 6-of-11 (.545) showing from three point range.

Josh Dilling led all scorers in the first half with 25 points and six assists. As a unit, NSU shot 60.7% from the field in the opening stanza.

The opening six minutes saw seven lead changes as Northern State held a 66-63 lead with 13:23 to go. The Mavericks then put together an 11-0 run, which saw five different Mavericks score, to put MSU up 74-66 with 10:02 to go in the game.

MSU still led by eight at 83-75 with 2:29 to go in the game, but Northern State would not make it easy on the Mavericks a it went on an 8-0 run in the final two minutes to tie the score at 83-83 with :27 to go. On MSU's next possession, Malik Willingham dribbled to his left and hit the teardrop over the NSU defender to put the Mavericks back up 85-83 with 3.5 seconds left. NSU's inbounds pass was then stolen away by Kyreese Willingham as the Mavericks prevailed 85-83.

Malik Willingham notched a team-high 19 points, while Peeters recorded his fourth doubled-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Hazekamp added 15 points also, while Justin Eagins tallied 11 points and six rebounds.

As a team, MSU shot 47.3% from the field, including a 10-of-21 (.476) showing from three point range. The Mavericks also enjoyed a 41-31 advantage in rebounds as they netted 21 second chance points.

Dilling led all scorers with 37 points and eight assists, while Jackson Moni notched 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

As a team, NSU shot 48.3% from the field, including a 12-of-33 (.364) performance from three point range. The Wolves also passed out 16 assists.

Minnesota State returns home on Friday as it takes on Minnesota Crookston. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Taylor Center.