By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO — The Minnesota State men’s basketball team played 27 games to earn the right to host the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament, but after Wednesday’s loss, that won’t happen.
Now, the Mavericks will have to wait until Sunday to see if they also lost the chance to host the Central Region tournament.
“It’s very disheartening to know you have the home court and you don’t take advantage of it,” coach Matt Margenthaler said. “It’s surprising, but we got beat by a team that was tougher and better than we were. To shoot the rate they shot, we just didn’t guard, and we didn’t rebound. We didn’t do the things we need to do to win.”
Southwest Minnesota State shot 61.0 percent, including 65.5 percent in the second half, and shocked the Mavericks 80-78 in the quarterfinals of the Northern Sun tournament at Bresnan Arena. With a victory, the Mavericks would have hosted the semifinals and championship game this weekend, but that tournament now moves to St. Cloud.
The Mavericks led for the first 14 minutes, but the Mustangs rallied on a pair of 3-pointers by DeAnthony Zanders. However, the Mavericks responded with a 10-4 run to finish the half up 42-37.
Southwest shot 56.7 percent in the half and had an 18-13 rebounding advantage. Minnesota State shot 46.7 percent and outscored the Mustangs 10-0 at the free-throw line. Travis Nelson had 12 points, making 6 of 6 free throws.
“This was disappointing, but Southwest played a good game,” Nelson said. “They’re a good team. I give them the credit.”
Minnesota State led by eight early in the second half, and the Mustangs whittled away at the margin.
The Mustangs took their first lead on Jordan Miller’s jumper in the lane with 37 seconds to play to make it 79-78. The Mavericks’ Cameron Hodges missed a wing jumper, but Jesse Clark came up with the ball with 14 seconds to play.
Jermain Davis drove into the lane but lost the ball, and the Mavericks fouled Andrew Peschong, who made one free throw. Nelson had the ball underneath, but it was slapped away at the buzzer.
“It doesn’t matter (if I got fouled),” Nelson said. “The referee didn’t call it. It’s not my decision.”
Nelson finished with 18 points, and Hodges scored a career-high 17 points, making 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Jefferson Mason had 12 points, six assists and three steals, and Davis scored 12.
“Our execution was brutal,” Margenthaler said. “We couldn’t get consecutive stops. If they missed a shot, they crashed the offensive boards. They know how to play against us. Their second-best offense is getting offensive rebounds.
“Talent can only take you so far. At some point, toughness has to enter into it. Southwest was the toughest team tonight.”
Scott Roehl led the Mustangs with 22 points and eight rebounds, and Zanders scored 17 points, including a long 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining that cut a four-point deficit. Southwest Minnesota State had a 34-21 rrebounding advantage.
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE 80
Andrews 1-3 0-0 2, Roehl 10-15 2-4 22, Dale 2-3 0-0 4, Miller 6-10 0-0 13, Zanders 7-10 0-0 17, Carlson 1-3 0-0 2, DeRock 1-1 0-0 3, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Peschong 1-4 1-3 3, Huseby 7-10 0-0 14. Totals: 36-59 3-7 80.
MINNESOTA STATE 78
Mason 4-6 4-7 12, Drapcho 1-4 0-0 2, Nelson 5-12 8-8 18, Clark 2-4 0-0 5, Davis 4-5 2-2 12, Hill 1-6 0-0 2, Hodges 6-9 0-0 17, Kirschbaum 1-3 0-0 2, Morrow 1-3 3-4 6, Grundman 0-0 0-0 0, Greeley 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 26-53 17-21 78.
Halftime: Minnesota State 42, Southwest Minnesota State 37. 3-point shooting: Southwest Minnesota State 5-11 (Andrews 0-1, Miller 1-3, Zanders 3-4, DeRock 1-1, Peschong 0-1), Minnesota State 9-23 (Mason 0-1, Drapcho 0-1, Clark 1-3, Davis 2-3, Hill 0-4, Hodges 5-6, Kirschbaum 0-2, Morrow 1-3). Rebounds: Southwest Minnesota State 34 (Roehl 8), Minnesota State 21 (Nelson 4). Assists: Southwest Minnesota State 11 (Zanders 4), Minnesota State 20 (Mason 6). Steals: Southwest Minnesota State 7 (Peschong 3), Minnesota State 7 (Mason 3). Turnovers: Southwest Minnesota State 15, Minnesota State 12. Total fouls: Southwest Minnesota State 18, Minnesota State 14. Fouled out: Southwest Minnesota State (Andrews).
Attendance: 1,291.
