Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – Minnesota State limited Southwest Minnesota State to 31 percent shooting and to one 3-pointer to earn a 60-40 victory in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball on Saturday afternoon inside the R/A Facility.
 
SMSU (2-3, 0-1 NSIC) which played the game without three starters due to COVID protocols, closed the game making 1 of 15 from 3-point range and committed 16 turnovers.
 
The two teams continue the weekend series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start at the R/A Facility.
 
MSU was led in scoring by Malik Willingham, who scored a game-high 20 points. The Mavericks improve to 5-2 overall, 4-1 NSIC.
 
Nick Dufault scored a team-high 12 points for the Mustangs, while Weston Baker Magrath added 10 points. Alex Hillesheim came off the bench to score six points, grab four rebounds, record two assists and added one steal. Kaden Evans scored five points with six rebounds and four steals.
 
SMSU closed the game shooting 14 of 45 from the field and was outrebounded, 35-33. MSU finished the game shooting 40 percent (22 of 55) from the field, including 6 of 22 from 3-point range.
 
MSU started the game strong in building a 12-2 advantage in the opening two and a half minutes. SMSU trailed 14-4, but rallied back to cut the deficit to 16-14 following a three-point play by Kaden Evans with midway through the half.
 
Unfortunately, SMSU would go scoreless for five and a half minutes as MSU scored 10 straight points to take a its largest lead of the half at 26-14 at the 4:21 mark.
 
The Mustangs finally broke the streak and scored the final six points of the half behind a field goal from Jake Phipps and two jumpers from Dufault to cut the deficit to 26-20 at halftime.
 
The offensive struggles continued into the second half for the Mustangs as they were held to just two points in the first nine minutes as the Mavericks were able to extend the lead to 41-22.
 
SMSU shot just 26 percent (5 of 19) in the second half and made its lone 3-pointer with Hillesheim hitting long-ranger with just under five minutes remaining in the game.