ST. PAUL, Minn. --- #7 Minnesota State picked up its fifth win of the season Saturday afternoon as it bested Concordia-St. Paul 33-20 on the road.

With the win, MSU improves to 5-0 on the season, including a 4-0 NSIC record. With the loss, CSP drops to 1-3, including a 1-2 conference record.
 
"It was a great team win and I am proud of our players and coaches who helped secure the win," head coach Todd Hoffner said. "The points we got just before half after the challenge loomed large as it played a big part in the outcome of the game.
 
"We then scored early in the second half and then the onside kick set us up with a short field to let us go up 33-6 and that proved to be enough."
 
The first quarter saw both teams score on their opening drives as the Mavericks led 7-3 after the first 15 minutes. CSP began the game with an 11-play drive that took more than six minutes off the clock before Jeff Isotalo-McGuire connected on a 29-yard field goal to put the Golden Bears up 3-0. The Mavericks answered right back on their opening drive as they drove 68 yards on 11 plays, including a two-yard touchdown carry from senior Tony Anger to put MSU up 7-3.
 
The second quarter saw the Mavericks add to their lead as they carried a 20-6 lead into halftime. Senior Hayden Ekern notched a two-yard touchdown run to cap off an 11-play scoring drive, before senior Christian Vasser finished an eight-play drive with a one-yard touchdown of his own. CSP's lone score of the second quarter came via a 51-yard field goal from Isotalo-McGuire.
 
Minnesota State set the tone for the second half right away on its first drive as it marched 75 yards down field in 11 plays to take a 26-6 lead. The drive started with a 10-yard pass from Ekern to senior Gabe Hagen and ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Ekern to Hagen.
 
On the following kickoff, the Mavericks kicked it short and the ball was recovered by junior Richard Agyekum on the CSP 41. Seven plays later, MSU reached the end zone again as Vasser notched his second rushing touchdown of the game, this time from two yards out, to put MSU up 33-6 with 7:50 to go in the third quarter.
 
The Golden Bears managed to score a pair of touchdowns in the final 17 minutes of the game. Jackson Compton connected with Carter Ryan on a 12-yard touchdown pass with 2:09 to go in the third quarter, before hooking up with Jaylin Richardson on a 21-yard touchdown pass with 10:14 to go in the fourth quarter.
 
The Golden Bears reached the Maverick side of the field two more times in the fourth quarter, but the Maverick defense held firm each time as MSU came away with the 33-20 win.
 
Ekern finished his day throwing for 169 yards and a touchdown. Hagen led the Maverick receivers with 76 yards and a touchdown, while junior Grant Guyett added three catches for 48 yards.
 
Ekern notched 52 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Anger posted 43 yards and a touchdown. Vasser finished with 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns also.
 
On defense, senior Antonio Alzheimer led the team with 10 tackles, while freshman Cade Stingle posted seven tackles. Senior Lorenzo jones notched one sack, while junior Edmund Ocansey broke up two passes.
 
Minnesota State returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 5, as it hosts Sioux Falls in its annual Homecoming Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., at Blakeslee Stadium.