MANKATO, Minn. --- #4 Minnesota State stayed perfect at Taylor Center Saturday evening as the Maverick defeated Bemidji State 76-66.
With the win, MSU improves to 26-2 on the season, including a 20-2 NSIC record. With the loss, BSU drops to 13-15, including a 9-13 conference record. The 26 regular season wins and 20 NSIC wins this season are both program bests. The Mavericks also finished the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record at Taylor Center.
The first three minutes of the game saw the Mavericks jump out to an eight point lead at 10-2. The Beavers were able to respond with a 12-2 run of their own to take a 14-12 lead with 12 minutes to go in the half.
The final 11:37 of the first half saw MSU and BSU match each other with 25 points each as the Beavers carried a 39-37 lead into the locker room.
Dylan Peeters notched eight points during that stretch, while
Justin Eagins tallied seven points.
Peeters led the Maverick offense in the first half with 11 points, while Eagins tallied 10 points.
Elijah Hazekamp added eight points as well. As a unit, MSU shot 41.7% from the field in the opening stanza
John Sutherland and Brayden Williams led the Beavers in the first half with 11 points each. As a team, BSU shot 50.0% from the field in the first half.
The game remained close early on in the second half as a pair of free throws with 13:22 to go gave Bemidji State a 46-45 lead. MSU then responded with a 17-1 over the course of nearly six minutes to go up 62-47.
Malik Willingham netted eight points during that stretch as the Mavericks connected on 6-of-8 attempts from the field.
Bemidji State was able to cut MSU's lead down to eight at 72-64 with 1:05 to go, but the Beavers would get no closer as
Malik Willingham went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute to help lock down the 76-66 win.
Eagins led all scorers with 20 points, while Peeters finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Malik Willingham notched 16 points and seven assists, while shooting 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Hazekamp tallied 14 points also.
As a team, MSU shot 42.2% from the field, including an 8-of-26 (.308) showing from downtown. The Mavericks score 15 points off of 12 BSU turnovers.
Dalton Albrecht led BSU with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Sutherland notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, Bemidji State shot 38.7% from the field, including a 6-of-31 (.194) performance from downtown.
Minnesota State continues its season on Saturday, March 2 in the second round of the NSIC Tournament at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Mavericks will face the winner of the game between Sioux Falls and Bemidji State at 11:00 a.m.
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