By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO — It took three games for the Minnesota State men’s basketball team to clinch the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship, and the first chance to clinch the top seed for the Central Region also resulted in a loss.
But like the cat with nine lives, the Mavericks have been given another chance, receiving the No. 1 seed for the Central Region and the right to host the opening games of the national tournament at Bresnan Arena.
“Having the opportunity to host the regional was one of our main goals,” coach Matt Margenthaler said. “This gives us a second chance, and it’s up to us. We have renewed hope and the opportunity to take care of home court again.”
Two weeks ago, the Mavericks (24-4) seemed in good position to get the No. 1 seed, but three losses in the last five games, including two at Bresnan Arena, weakened MSU’s chances.
“It was good to see that the hard work at the beginning of the season paid off,” senior guard Jermain Davis said. “We hit some potholes at the end, and we didn’t take care of business in the conference tournament, but the work we did all season wasn’t overlooked.”
The Mavericks will host eighth-seeded Colorado School of Mines at 6 p.m. Saturday. In the other half of the bracket, fourth-seeded St. Cloud State, which won the Northern Sun tournament on Sunday, faces Metro State at 8:30 p.m..
In the other bracket, No. 2 seed Mesa State takes on Winona State at noon, and No. 3 Augustana draws New Mexico Highlands at 2:30 p.m..
The semifinal games will be played at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, with the championship game at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
“We’re all really excited,” senior center Travis Nelson said. “We’ve got a lot to prove to everybody. We’ve been working hard in practice this week, and we’ll be ready to go.”
This will be the sixth consecutive trip to the national tournament for the Mavericks, who have watched the home team advance out of the regional in five preseason tournaments.
“We’ve practiced harder Friday and Saturday than we’ve played in the last couple games,” Margenthaler said. “We’ve got to get to back to our identity and playing the way we did (earlier in the season).”
