MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State's Justin Eagins hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to lift the Mavericks, ranked No. 9 nationally, to a thrilling 93-89 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday afternoon inside the Taylor Center.
 
SMSU, which earlier this season defeated No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State, had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but a pair of missed shots around the basket rimmed off and MSU was able to secure the rebound and the victory.
 
MSU, which snapped a four-game losing streak to SMSU over the past two seasons, improves to 8-0 overall, 2-0 NSIC.
 
SMSU, which had five players score in double figures, drops to 4-3 overall, 1-2 NSIC.
 
The game featured 20 lead changes and was tied 11 times.
 
Jake Phipps led the Mustangs with 19 points on 8 of 13 shooting with his last field goal putting SMSU in the lead at 89-88 with 40 seconds remaining. On the ensuing MSU possession, Malik Willingham, who led the Mavericks with 27 points, missed a jumper, but MSU secured the rebound and Eagins, a transfer from NSIC foe Wayne State, drilled the go-ahead field goal.
 
Aeron Stevens scored a career-high 18 points with four field goals and was 9 of 12 from the foul line and secured six rebounds. Kyle Luedtke poured in 16 points on 5 of 6 shooting, including a perfect 4 of 4 from 3-point range. Jakob Braaten chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Cliff Cofield grabbed seven rebounds, dished out six assists and scored 10 points.
 
SMSU finished the game shooting an incredible 62 percent (32 of 52) from the field, while making 9 of 17 from 3-point range. MSU shot a solid 51 percent (33 of 65), including 13 of 28 from 3-point land and committed just six turnovers.
 
MSU connected on three 3-pointers in the opening seven minutes in building a 17-13 advantage. SMSU would counter with a 3-pointer by Cofield and back-to-back field goals by Phipps and Braaten to give the Mustangs a 20-17 lead at the 10:40 mark.
 
The teams would exchange the lead numerous times in the final 10 minutes of the half with SMSU holding its last lead at 45-41 following a 3-pointer by Cofield and a short jumper by Aeron Stevens with just over a minute remaining.
 
The Mavericks would use a pair of three-point plays in the final minute to end the half on an 8-2 run to build a 49-47 lead at the break. MSU held a 9-0 advantage in second chance points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
SMSU shot outstanding in the first half making 17 of 27 field goals with five 3-pointers. SMSU has now shot 60 percent or higher in its last three halves versus MSU in Mankato.
 
MSU would build a 53-47 early into the second half, but SMSU answered with a 9-0 run capped off by a dunk by Mason Lund to give SMSU a 56-53 advantage.
 
 
SMSU built its largest lead of the game at 66-60 with 11 minutes left following a jumper from Braaten.
 
The Mustangs would maintain the lead until the 6:38 mark when Willingham connected on a 3-pointer to give the Mavericks a 76-75 lead.
 
The teams would exchange the lead several times in the final six minutes with Phipps giving the Mustangs their final lead in the final minute before the Mavericks scored the final five points.
 
SMSU, after playing its first seven regular season games and one exhibition game on the road, will have its home opener on Friday, Dec. 8, facing Concordia-St. Paul inside the R/A Facility with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m.