MOORHEAD, Minn. – Behind two major performances from Gavin Baumgartner and Jacob Beeninga, the MSU Moorhead men's basketball team collected a hard-fought win over Minnesota State Mankato. Baumgartner and Beeninga combined for 48 points as the Dragons beat the Mavericks 86-76.
 
Mankato would begin the game making three straight threes to gain an early 9-2 advantage. The Dragons would weather that storm, trailing by just one point with under 13 minutes remaining in the half. A Lorenzo McGhee basket would put MSUM up 19-18. However, the Mavericks would shoot lights out from long range in the first half. Mankato made seven of their first eight three-point attempts. With just over five minutes remaining in the half, the Mavericks led 38-30.
 
Three-pointers from Logan Kinsey and Jacob Beeninga would cut that Maverick lead to two points late in the half. Beeninga would proceed to hit two more three-pointers to put the Dragons up 42-38. The sophomore netted seven three-pointers in the first half to score a game-high 23 points through 20 minutes. MSUM nailed 10 team threes in the first half. 
 
MSUM would finish the first half on a 20-4 run to take a 50-42 lead into halftime. The Dragons would lock in defensively to close the frame, holding Mankato to one of seven from the field down the stretch.
 
The Dragons would continue to control the scoreboard in the second half with Gavin Baumgartner making and facilitating. The senior scored nine early points in the frame and had tallied eight assists midway through the half. While Mankato would cut the lead to six points, Baumgartner would answer with his second three-pointer of the game, extending MSUM's lead to 11 points. 
 
MSUM would not let their lead drop below six points in the latter stages of the contest. Baumgartner would nail another three to give the Dragons breathing room with under three minutes remaining. The Dragons would put the game on ice late, beating the Mavericks 86-76. MSUM hit 13 threes in the game led by Beeninga, who made seven, two shy of tying the school record. 
 
Top Dragons

• Jacob Beeninga: 25 points (eight three-pointers), five rebounds
• Gavin Baumgartner: 23 points, nine assists, three rebounds
• Logan Kinsey: 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks
• Lorenzo McGhee: 10 points
• Dane Zimmer: Nine points, 11 rebounds

 
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
 
The Dragons also played their 20^th game of the season with a 16-3 record entering play exactly six years ago today at home; they beat St. Cloud State 87-82.
 
Up Next
 
The Dragons (17-3, 12-2 NSIC) are back on the road next weekend for the final two games of their cross-divisional play. MSUM is scheduled to take on Upper Iowa at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Winona State at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.