> Box Score

MANKATO, Minn. – No. 20 Minnesota State pulled away in the final eight minutes of the second half to earn a 95-78 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in NSIC men's basketball on Friday night.

MSU (15-3, 10-2 NSIC) held a 79-70 advantage with seven minutes, 49 second left in the game, then used a quick 7-0 run to extend the lead to 86-70 and never looked back in earning its sixth straight win over SMSU since Dec. 14, 2012.

MSU finished the game connecting on 13 of 24 3-point field attempts.

SMSU (9-10, 5-8 NSIC), which suffered its sixth straight loss, was led by Joey Bartlett's 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range. Mitch Weg added 12 points and six rebounds, while Cole Martin, Travis Meinders and Turner Moen all added 11 points.

SMSU finished the night shooting 48 percent (34 of 71) from the field, including 7 of 24 from 3-point range.

Connor Miller paced the Mavericks with 24 points and six rebounds. MSU closed the game shooting 54 percent (32 of 59).

MSU scored the game's first seven points and never trailed in the contest. SMSU rallied to trim the deficit to18-17 at the 12:21 mark following a field goal by Bartlett, but a 10-4 run by MSU later in the half extended the Maverick lead to 42-28 with six minutes left in the half.

SMSU wouldn't go away and cut the deficit to 46-40 at halftime.

Bartlett drilled a 3-pointer with 15:45 left in the second half to pull SMSU to within 57-53, but that was as close at the Mustangs would come for the remainder of the game.

Meinders scored on a layup to make the score 79-70 with 7:49 on the clock, before MSU rallied with the decisive run to put the game away.

SMSU closes the weekend road trip tomorrow taking on Concordia-St. Paul starting at 6 p.m.