MANKATO — Jermain Davis has only played two games for Minnesota State, but he already has three of the top dunks ever made at Bresnan Arena.

“It’s all energy,” Davis said. “This team is remarkable in that when you make a dunk or make a good play, everybody is off the bench cheering for you.”

A 23-6 run over the first six minutes of the game allowed Minnesota State to claim a 105-73 victory over Maryville University at the Pepsi Tip-Off men’s basketball classic Friday at Bresnan Arena. The lead only briefly dipped into single digits later in the first half as the Mavericks picked up the comfortable victory.

Davis, a transfer from the University of Iowa, had three highlight dunks, but his overall game was just as impressive, with 19 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals.

“I don’t want to be a one-dimensional player,” Davis said. “Even if I score 12, 13 points, I want to put my stamp on the game with assists or steals. I want the assists as much as I want the points.”

Travis Nelson scored the game’s first four points, stealing an inbound pass after his own layup for a loud dunk. Nelson had eight points in the first three minutes as Minnesota State lead 14-2.

Davis’ first dunk came off a steal as he coasted in alone, cradling the ball near his waist and then throwing it in behind his head.

“I’ve been doing that dunk since 10th grade,” Davis said. “I know I can do it. That was nothing new for me.”

As he did in the season-opener Sunday, Jefferson Mason gave the Mavericks a spark off the bench, scoring four points in a 9-2 run that made it 23-6 at the 13:49 mark.

Maryville had its best stretch over the next five minutes, closing the gap to 32-25, but the Mavericks limited the Saints to only five points in the final eight minutes. Cameron Hodges’ 3-pointer started a 17-2 run that made it 49-27, though Maryville’s Kyle Winters hit a 3-pointer for the final points of the half.

“That was big for us,” coach Matt Margenthaler said. “We started so well, and we kind of went into a lull for a few minutes. We’re a high-energy team, and we needs to ge rebounds and create turnovers so we can get out and run and get some easy baskets.”

The second half began with a spectacular play as Jesse Clark lobbed from 25 feet to Davis for a two-handed dunk.

“It was pretty high, but it’s a trust thing,” Davis said. “I told him just to throw it, and I’ll at least catch it, if not dunk it.”

Davis’ next dunk, driving off the wing and jumping high into the air before jamming the one-hander, made it 74-50 with 11 minutes to play.

“I remember in high school, and I watched him a couple of times at junior college, and he just has another gear,” Margenthaler said. “He’s so explosive.”

Mason had his second double-double in as many games with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and backup point guard Marcus Hill had 14 points as the Mavericks’ bench accounted for 58 points. Nelson finished with 12 points.

Eric Gruenewald led Maryville with 19 points, and Tyler Saxton had 12. The Saints shot just 39.7 percent and made 7 of 26 from 3-point range.

The Mavericks (2-0) host Nebraska-Kearney at 8 p.m. today to wrap up the Tip-Off. Maryville plays Minnesota Duluth at 3 p.m.

“Anytime you play a regional opponent, it’s very, very big,” Margenthaler said. “I respect what (Nebraska-Kearney) has done in the past, and I respect what they did to Minnesota Duluth (77-71 on Friday). We’re going to have to be ready because I guarantee they will be.”



MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY 73
Willimann 0-3 2-2 2, Dulle 2-10 1-2 5, Gruenewald 8-17 1-2 19, Saxton 5-10 1-2 12, Winters 1-7 0-0 3, Lee 1-1 0-0 2, Shotkowski 1-1 0-0 3, Ford 4-6 0-0 8, Nehm 0-1 0-0 0, Sorenson 0-1 2-2 2, Rebuck 1-3 0-0 2, Menard 1-2 0-0 2, Abrahamovich 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 4-6 1-1 11, Gallian 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 29-73 7-26 73.



MINNESOTA STATE 105
Greeley 2-2 0-0 5, Nelson 5-13 2-2 12, Hodges 1-6 2-3 5, Clark 1-1 4-6 6, Davis 6-12 5-7 19, Hill 5-8 1-1 14, Mason 4-6 10-13 18, Kirschbaum 2-4 2-3 6, Morrow 1-3 2-2 4, Drapcho 2-6 1-2 5, Weldon 0-4 0-0 0, Bisenius 1-4 3-4 5, Grundman 1-3 0-0 2, Benson 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 33-74 32-43 105.



Halftime: Minnesota State 49, Maryville 30. 3-point shooting: Maryville 7-26 (Dulle 0-1, Gruenewald 2-7, Saxton 1-3, Winters 1-7, Shotkowski 1-1, Ford 0-1, Nehm 0-1, Sorenson 0-1, Abrahamovich0-1, Jones 2-3), Minnesota State 7-21 (Greeley 1-1, Hodges 1-4, Davis 2-5, Hill 3-3, Mason 0-1, Morrow 0-1, Drapcho 0-3, Weldon 0-3). Rebounds: Maryville 42 (Dulle 7), Minnesota State 52 (Mason 10). Assists: Maryville 8 (Saxton 3), Minnesota State 19 (Clark 6). Steals: Maryville 4 (Dulle, Gruenewald, Lee, Ford), Minnesota State 14 (Davis 4). Turnovers: Maryville 21, Minnesota State 9. Total fouls: Maryville 29, Minnesota State 15. Fouled out: Maryville (Rebuck).

Attendance: 1,550.