By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO — With 13 minutes to go, top-seeded Minnesota State was trailing scrappy Colorado School of Mines by eight points, in danger of being upset in the first round of the men’s basketball national tournament.
But Jermain Davis began flying through the air and Curt Greeley started defending the turf as the Mavericks avoided a stunning upset bid.
“I’m very relieved to get that 40 minutes over,” Minnesota State coach Matt Margenthaler said. “Give credit to Colorado School of Mines. They did everything they could to win, but we were deeper. We were fortunate to come back at the end.”
Minnesota State wore down Colorado School of Mines with tough defense in the second half, surviving 84-80 in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Central Region tournament Saturday. Mines shot nearly 64 percent in the first half but that slipped to 53.3 percent in the second half. Conversely, the Mavericks went from 29.4 percent in the first half to 53.3 percent in the second, also making 19 of 21 free throws after a shaky start from the line.
“We started playing harder (in the second half) and flying around,” senior guard Jermain Davis said. “This is the first time in a long time that we had each other’s back and covered up for each other’s mistakes.”
Minnesota State got up early, using a spectacular dunk and free throw by Davis and consecutive baskets by Marcus Hill to lead 16-8. However, Mines gradually crawled back, taking advantage of the Mavericks’ missed free throws to go ahead 26-25 at the 6-minute mark.
Mines built the lead to 39-30 by halftime, shooting 63.6 percent. The Mavericks shot a season-low 29.4 percent from the field, with two 3-pointers in 10 attempts, and made 8 of 18 free throws, scoring only 14 points in the final 13 minutes. Minnesota State made two of its final 14 shots for its second-lowest halftime total of the season, not taking advantage of 15 offensive rebounds.
“We went into the locker room and came together as a family,” Davis said. “We need to protect home court, and this proves how much we’ve matured this season. We all believed we could win.”
The Mavericks cut the lead to 45-42 as Jefferson Mason had six points in the first five minutes of the second half, but a couple of minutes later, the lead was back at nine.
Minnesota State’s comeback began with a steal and dunk by Mason with 12 minutes to play. Hill hit a 3-pointer and Davis hit a jumper and 3-pointer to get within one. Jesse Clark’s three-point play pulled the deeper Mavericks even at 63, and Davis drove for two as Minnesota State put together a 16-4 run that made it 76-67 with a minute to go.
Mines made three 3-pointers in the final 16 seconds, hitting 9 of 14 for the game.
“Coach really wanted us to attack the rim in the second half,” Mason said. “And we started making our free throws. Sometimes against a zone, we get lackadaisical and stand around and start launching 3s, but we’re athletic and talented enough to get to the rim, which we started doing better in the second half.”
Davis had 17 points and 12 rebounds, his first double-double of the season, and Mason had 19 points and nine rebounds. Hill scored 17 points, with three 3-pointers, and Clark added 14 points, making 8 of 12 free throws in the second half, to go with six assists.
Mines, which hit 9 of 14 from 3-point range, was led by Sean Armstrong’s 25 points.
“I’m very, very proud of these kids,” Mines coach Pryor Orser said. “That was a gargantuan effort tonight. But (Minnesota State) made the plays they needed to make, and their defense was great in the second half.”
Minnesota State will play a semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. against St. Cloud State or Metro State.
“Everything starts on defense with us,” said senior Curt Greeley, whose defense in the final 10 minutes was key to the victory. “When we defend and rebound, that’s when (my teammates) can get out and run.”
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES 80
Green 4-7 4-4 14, Galloway 4-4 0-0 9, Minschwaner 6-15 1-4 13, Armstrong 9-14 6-8 25, Hoffman 5-9 0-0 13, Churchwell 0-0 0-0 0, Agee 1-2 0-0 3, Hamilton 1-1 0-0 3, Travers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 30-52 11-16 80.
MINNESOTA STATE 84
Mason 6-11 7-11 19, Nelson 3-9 0-0 6, Clark 2-4 9-13 14, Davis 5-12 6-9 17, Drapcho 0-2 2-2 2, Hill 7-13 0-0 17, Hodges 1-6 2-2 4, Kirschbaum 0-1 0-0 0, Morrow 1-3 0-0 2, Grundman 0-1 1-2 1, Greeley 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 26-64 27-39 84.
Halftime: Colorado School of Mines 39, Minnesota State 30. 3-point shooting: Colorado School of Mines 9-14 (Green 2-3, Galloway 1-1, Minschwaner 0-1, Armstrong 1-1, Hoffman 3-5, Agee 1-2, Hamilton 1-1), Minnesota State 5-16 (Mason 0-1, Clark 1-1, Davis 1-3, Hill 3-8, Hodges 0-2, Morrow 0-1). Rebounds: Colorado School of Mines 33 (Minschwaner 7), Minnesota State 44 (Davis 12). Assists: Colorado School of Mines 176 (Armstrong 7), Minnesota State 14 (Clark 6). Steals: Colorado School of Mines 2 (Green, Hoffman), Minnesota State 7 (Mason 2). Turnovers: Colorado School of Mines 16, Minnesota State 6. Total fouls: Colorado School of Mines 26, Minnesota State 19. Fouled out: Colorado School of Mines (Green).
Attendance: Not available.
