ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota State (19-11, 13-9 NSIC) faced a tough matchup on Saturday, falling to Concordia-St. Paul (19-9, 14-8 NSIC) 87-69 at the Gangelhoff Center. Despite the setback, the Mavericks showed grit on the glass, snagging a season-high 24 offensive rebounds.
The game kicked off with both teams struggling to settle into a rhythm. Junior
Traijan Sain and freshman
Colton Benson got the Mavericks on the scoreboard early, with Benson sinking a crucial 3-pointer at 14:32 to momentarily put MSU ahead. As the first half unfolded, the Maverick bench stepped up, highlighted by freshman
Phoenix Childs' game-tying 3-pointer at 10:41. Childs was a standout on the glass, pulling down eight rebounds, and contributing 10 points.
Junior
Caden Kirkman was a force on the boards as well with five offensive rebounds, helping keep the Mavericks in the fight. Senior
Malcolm Jones then pushed MSU ahead with a layup and a free throw at 6:51, shining with 21 points and seven rebounds. Yet, Sam West of the Golden Bears answered back, ensuring Concordia-St. Paul edged ahead by halftime, leading 37-34 after Childs' late jumper trimmed the deficit.
The first half was a nail-biter, with the lead changing four times and five ties. The Mavericks' 28 total rebounds, 17 on the offensive glass, translated into valuable second-chance points. Even with a shooting percentage of 30, MSU's hustle on the boards allowed them to stay close, converting 14 second-chance points.
Jones continued his strong play into the second half, tying the game at 37 with another layup and free throw. However, Concordia-St. Paul quickly regained control, highlighted by Ben Kopetzki's fast-break 3-pointer. The Golden Bears shot an impressive 59 percent from the field, outpacing the Mavericks 50-35 in the second half. Despite junior
Arhman Lewis's efforts, including a key 3-pointer, Concordia-St. Paul's bench powered a scoring surge that left MSU behind. The Mavericks struggled with shooting efficiency, hitting just 32 percent of their attempts, though they managed a 7-2 edge in offensive rebounds, adding nine more second-chance points. Concordia-St. Paul's fast-break prowess, generating 10 points from steals, kept them firmly in control, sealing the win at 87-69.
Jones led the Mavericks with 21 points, making 9-of-13 shots. Sain added 12 points and two steals, while Lewis chipped in five assists and five points. Kirkman was solid on the boards with eight rebounds and eight points.
For Concordia-St. Paul, West led with 23 points, going 10 of 14 from the field, alongside six rebounds and three assists. Kopetzki was particularly impactful, posting a team-high 26 points on 12 of 20 shooting, with four rebounds and three assists. Defensively, Owen Carlson made his mark with three steals and two blocks, contributing eight points and four assists. Chet Kloss dominated inside with 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting, collecting nine rebounds and three blocks.
Minnesota State continues its season at home this Wednesday as it hosts Winona State in the first round of the NSIC Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Taylor Center.
