Box Score
MANKATO, Minn. --In a battle for first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team fell short against No. 11-ranked Minnesota State, Mankato, falling to the Mavericks 87-64 at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.

The loss ended a season-best eight-game winning streak for MSUM (13-2, 7-2 NSIC), while Mankato improved to 12-1 overall and 8-1 in the league.

Senior Anthony Tucker surpassed 1,000 points for his collegiate career in the win. Tucker entered the game needing 10 points to reach 1,000 and finished with 12 in the contest.

Freshman Tyler Vaughan scored a career-high 21 points for the Dragons to lead the offense. In addition to Tucker's 12 points, freshman Ben Figini added nine points. Senior Eric Olson led with 10 rebounds.

The Dragons shot 39.1 percent (25-of-64) -- a season-low -- while Mankato shot 52.5 percent (32-of-61) from the field.
The Mavericks built a 21-4 lead 5:58 into the game and MSUM was forced to play catch-up the rest of the way.  A Tucker 3-pointer brought them within 31-18 with 6:04 left in the opening half but the Dragons got no closer in the frame and trailed 42-27 at the break.

In the second half, MSUM was within 47-29 after a pair of free throws by Jordan Riewer, but the Mavericks pulled away from there on their way to the 23-point win.
Tucker and Riewer led with two assists. Junior Taylor Filipek added five rebounds.

The Dragons return home to host Northern State on Tuesday. The game, part of a women's and men's doubleheader, begins at 8 p.m. at Alex Nemzek Hall.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The last time the Dragon men surrendered 87 points in a game was in their 95-87 win over Winona State on Jan. 15, 2011.