MANKATO, Minn. – Ferris State blocked 29 shots as a team and Caden Brown scored 1:45 into overtime as Minnesota State fell 2-1 Saturday night in the second game of the CCHA quarterfinals at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Gavin Best and Jack Mesic provided assists to the game-winning goal as MSU lost, despite a 29-13 advantage in shots on goal.
 
The Mavericks (19-10-7) will host the Bulldogs (8-26-2) in a deciding game on Sunday at 5:07 p.m. CT. The defeat broke a streak of 20 straight first round game wins for Minnesota State, dating back to 2016 (Lake Superior State).
 
The Mavericks held FSU without a shot on goal for over 12 minutes to begin the game. Campbell Cichosz helped kill a late penalty with four shots blocked in the first period.
 
Tristan Lemyre and Jakob Stender generated scoring chances for MSU in the second period. Then Liam Watkins intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and connected with Luigi Benincasa on a back door saucer pass for a one-timer and his eighth goal of the season at even strength at 16:42.
 
John Lundy answered for Ferris State just over two minutes later. Connor McGrath worked his way free up the left side and fed it in front for Lundy at the top of the crease.
 
Locked at 1-1 in the third, Lemyre whistled a wrist shot off the post and the Mavericks headed to overtime for the 12^th time this season. Benincasa earned an early scoring chance in the 20-minute extra session but was denied by goaltender Martin Lundberg.
 
Then Best curled behind the goal line and fed Brown on the short-side for the Bulldogs. The redshirt-senior chipped it in to keep FSU's season alive.
 
The box office at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center opens on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.