MSU Uses Long-Distance Shot to Cage Golden Bears

Mavericks Connect on Season-High 11 Three-Pointers
              

St. Paul, Minn. ---   The Minnesota State men’s basketball team – behind  four players in double-digits – used a season-high 11 three-point field goals en route to 95-82 victory over Concordia University in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday evening in downtown St. Paul.

Senior guard Marcus Hill led the Mavericks offensively with a career-high 28 points while passing out seven assists, which tied his season-high.

“Anytime you get a win on the road in this league you have to be excited,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler.  “That being said we have to do a lot of things better.  I don’t think we were as solid as we could be defensively and we left a lot of points on the floor because of not converting on the free throw line.  Now it is time to turn our focus toward St. Cloud State tomorrow evening.”

Concordia University jumped out to an early lead as it opened up a 5-0 advantage through the first couple of possessions.

The lead was short-lived however as started connecting some deep shots as the Mavericks rattled off six of their first 10 three point attempts to open a nine-point lead with 11:30 remaining in the half.
The three-point barrage was led by Hill who connected on four of his first five attempts from beyond the arch – at least three of which were from the NBA line painted on the court while passing out three assists early on.

The Mavericks continued the torrid shooting pace through the rest of the first half as it finished the first 20 minutes shooting 64.5 percent from the floor en route to opening a 49-42 advantage.

Hill led all scorers with 15 points in the first half on 5-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-6 from downtown.  Senior wing Jefferson Mason added 10 points and redshirt freshman Connor O’Brien had nine.

The Mavericks continued shooting well in the second half as it regained a double-digit lead for much of the half.

Concordia used defensive pressure to cut the lead to seven late in the game however MSU sank eight free throws in the final 90 seconds to secure the win.

Hill finished the night connecting on 8-of-13 shots, including 6-of-8 from down town.

Mason added 17 points and nine rebounds while O’Brien recorded his second double-double of the year, and the second this year by a Maverick with a 13-point, 13-rebound effort.

Senior guard Cameron Hodges also contributed double-figures in the scoring column as he finished with 17 points.

The Mavericks shot 56.9 for the night from the floor while CU hit on 46.4 percent.  The Mavericks finished the night with 18 assists compared to just 12 turnovers.    MSU forced the Golden Bears into 10 turnovers, turning them into 15 points.

The 21st-ranked Mavericks (7-0, 3-0 NSIC) play at St. Cloud State tomorrow evening.  Tip is set for 6 p.m.