MOORHEAD, Minn. — Minnesota State (15-9, 9-7 NSIC) rolled into Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse and emerged victorious over MSU Moorhead (10-12, 7-9 NSIC) with a commanding 82-66 win on Saturday night. 

The first half saw a balanced offensive battle, with both teams scoring 22 points in the paint. Minnesota State's bench came through big time, contributing 16 points and playing a pivotal role in a tightly contested half that featured seven ties and lead changes. The Maverick bench ended up scoring a whopping 44 of the team's 82 points.

Junior Caden Kirkman and junior Arhman Lewis propelled the Mavericks with key plays. Kirkman notched a season-high 23 points, making his presence felt on the court. Sophomore Will Opsahl hit a clutch 3-pointer at 10:46 to regain the lead, while Lewis, continuing his streak of seven or more assists in five straight games, extended that lead with a late 3-pointer at 1:42. Minnesota State wrapped up the first half ahead 39-33, setting a strong tone for the rest of the game.

MSU Moorhead kicked off the second half with a turnover, which junior Traijan Sain turned into two free throws at 19:05. Minnesota State kept pushing, with a three from Sain at 17:03, assisted by Lewis. Kirkman followed with a three at 15:04, and Opsahl added another at 13:22, stretching the lead to 56-44. Opsahl matched his career-high with 19 points, behind a 5-of-7 showing from downtown.

The Mavericks defense was relentless, highlighted by a senior Malcolm Jones steal that led to a fast-break layup by sophomore Carson Schweim. Opsahl drilled another three-pointer, extending the lead to 66-49 at 10:26. Minnesota State kept the pressure on, with Kirkman continuing to dominate inside, including a jumper at 4:09, bringing the score to 78-54.

In the final moments, the Mavericks maintained their lead, with Kirkman adding another basket at 0:33. Despite some late efforts from MSU Moorhead, Minnesota State sealed the deal with an 82-66 finish. This marked the fifth time in their last six outings that the Mavericks have scored at least 80 points.

Minnesota State's shooting was key, nailing 52.5% from the field, and they remain undefeated at 6-0 when shooting 50% or better this season. Their streak against NSIC North Division teams extended to 8-0 with this victory.

Kirkman led with 23 points and eight rebounds. Lewis chipped in 18 points and seven assists, while Opsahl added 19 points. Sain contributed 11 points and two steals.

For MSU Moorhead, Isa El-Amin led with 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting, along with eight assists. Adam Jenkins was a standout with a team-high 16 points on efficient 7-for-9 shooting and four rebounds. Kabine Kaba added 11 points, hitting all six of his free throws and blocking two shots. Eddie Beeninga was a defensive force with three steals, adding five points and three assists.

Up next, the Mavericks host Sioux Falls at Taylor Center on Thursday, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.