MANKATO, Minn. – MSU Moorhead men's basketball came close to upending host Minnesota State on Friday night. However, the Mavericks would claim a narrow contest, 90-88.
A well-played first 10 minutes by both teams resulted in a 20-18 MSUM lead.
Logan Kinsey led the Dragons with seven points early, including a made three-pointer. Big man
Jacob Jennissen scored six in the same stretch. A returning
JaMir Price helped facilitate MSUM's offense early, assisting on baskets to Kinsey and
Carson Johnson.
Shaun Wysocki gave the Dragons the two-point advantage after a reverse lay-in while being fouled.
Price would score his first points shortly thereafter on a three, putting MSUM up five points, 25-20. Minnesota State would later get both Johnson and Jennissen in foul trouble, eventually scoring an 8-0 run to lead 31-27.
While the Mavericks would lead by as many as seven points, MSUM would come back to take a one-point lead after an and-one from
Sam Hastreiter (42-41). Wysocki paced the Dragon offense in the comeback, scoring six points in the flurry. The Dragons would retain the one-point lead at the break, 44-43. Wysocki led MSUM off the bench with 12 points on five of six shooting. Kinsey added nine for the Dragons while Price dished out five assists.
MSUM would come out hot in the second half, using a 9-2 run to lead 53-45. Price started the fun before Johnson scored five straight to force a Maverick timeout. The Dragons would stretch their lead into double figures after a transition bucket from Kinsey. At the midway point of the half, Minnesota State would have the score back within eight points, 67-63. However, it was Price who would stamp out a 9-0 Maverick run with an up-and-under and-one ahead of a media timeout.
Minnesota State would get the count to within one point before Hastreiter provided a needed three-pointer for the Dragons. With five minutes to play, MSUM remained in front, 75-73 before the Mavericks regained the lead shortly thereafter. Trailing by three points, MSUM would rally back to regain a one-point lead with two minutes to play.
The teams would trade leads before the Mavericks claimed a three-point lead with under a minute to go. Price would earn a tough, spinning basket to bring the Dragons to within one point with 21 seconds on the clock. After a pair of Maverick free throws, the Dragons would have a chance to tie, but would fall victim to a crucial turnover in the waning seconds. The Mavericks would win, 90-88.
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Up Next
The Dragons (10-7, 5-6 NSIC) are headed to Winona, Minn., for a 3:30 p.m. tipoff with Winona State tomorrow afternoon.
