Box Score
MARSHALL, MINN. - No. 8 Minnesota State, Mankato shot 71.4 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting 62.7 percent to earn a 93-84 victory over No. 24 Southwest Minnesota State in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for both teams.
It was the first ever men's basketball game at the R/A Facility between two ranked teams. MSU improves to 8-1 overall, 1-0 NSIC with its eighth straight victory while SMSU drops to 6-2 overall, 0-1 NSIC.
SMSU held a commanding 44-31 rebound advantage in the contest but made just 21 of 35 free throws.
MSU, which has now won seven straight games in the series between the two teams, led for much of the first half including holding a 29-22 lead with just under eight minutes left in the half, before SMSU rallied to take its first lead of the game at 38-37 with 1:40 remaining on two free throws by Nick Dale.
SMSU held a 41-39 halftime lead lead despite shooting just 34.3 percent from the field in the opening half including just 3 of 11 from three-point range.
The two teams started the second half trading baskets and the score was tied 52-52 with 15:22 left in the game before the Mavericks went on an 8-0 run to build a 60-52 lead with 13 minutes remaining.
SMSU rallied back to trim the MSU lead to 73-70 with 6:07 remaining on a Kevin Andrews three-pointer, but the Mavericks had anothe answer going on 7-2 run to push the lead to 80-72 with 4:29 on the clock. SMSU would trim the lead to 80-76 with 3:30 left in the second half but that was as close as the Mustangs would get for the remainder of the night.
Taylor Huseby scored a career-high 18 points to lead the SMSU offense as he connected on 8 of 11 shots. Nick Dale recorded his first career double-doube with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Andrews and Jon DeRock rounded out the double figure scoring for SMSU with 11 points apiece.
Ross DeMasi led SMSU in rebounding with a game-high 14.
The Mustangs finished the contest shooting 40.6 percent from the field.
SMSU will continue NSIC play next weekend with a pair of road games at Northern State and Mary.
