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  • Wayne State's Adol Aluong collides with Minnesota State's Zach Romashko on his way to the basket during the first half Saturday at Bresnan Arena. Pat Christman

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  • Minnesota State's Jimmy Whitehead shoots around Wayne State's Derrell Williams during the first half Saturday at Bresnan Arena. Pat Christman

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  • Minnesota State's Stephen Kirschbaum is fouled by Wayne State's Ayron Worthington during the first half Saturday at Bresnan Arena. Pat Christman

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February 4, 2012

Margenthaler delivers sharp message after MSU's latest loss

By Chad Courrier Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — Five games to go. Very little to play for.

Who knows what’s going to happen in the final three weeks of the regular season for the Minnesota State men’s basketball team?

“I want to see guys show up Monday (for practice) that want to compete and give everything they have,” Mavericks coach Matt Margenthaler said. “They have to realize that every day is a tryout for next year. Everyone is not going to be back next year.”

Minnesota State got schooled by Wayne State, falling 67-52 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game Saturday at Bresnan Arena. The game was close for the first 12 minutes, and the Mavericks made a 19-8 run late in the game. In between, Wayne State dominated the home team.

“The most disappointing game of the season,” Margenthaler said. “After playing at a high level (Friday night against Augustana), to show up with nothing today was very disappointing. If you’re a competitor, you show up every day, and we didn’t do that.”

Jimmy Whitehead’s basket from the lane cut Wayne State’s lead to 21-19 with 7:22 remaining in the first half. But the Wildcats finished the half on a 15-2 run, capped by a dunk at the buzzer, that demoralized the home team.

“We didn’t have any energy, no effort,” senior Stephen Kirschbaum said. “It was embarrassing.”

Wayne State’s biggest lead was 50-27 with 14 minutes to play before the Mavericks found some offense. The deficit was cut to 11 at the four-minute mark, but that didn’t last long.

“It seems like we always play well for 30 minutes, but we have that 10-minute stretch where we can’t put it in the bucket,” Kirschbaum said. “We have a lot of issues and a lot of things we need to fix.”

Zach Romashko led Minnesota State with 12 points, and Kirschbaum and Whitehead each scored 10.

“I’ve had a great four years, and I want to enjoy the rest of my time here,” Kirschbaum said. “I want to help these guys out, not just this year but for the future.”

The Mavericks (7-14, 6-12 in Northern Sun) finish the road schedule with games Friday at St. Cloud State and Saturday at Concordia-St. Paul.



WAYNE STATE 67

Williams 8-11 4-7 20, Shelby 1-9 1-2 3, Seroyer 4-10 3-4 14, Holdsworth 1-7 3-4 6, Aluong 0-0 2-3 2, Bauschek 1-1 0-0 1, Worthington 3-3 0-0 6, Rolfzen 5-7 0-0 13, Wuebker 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 23-49 13-20 67.



MINNESOTA STATE 52

Romashko 6-11 0-0 12, Okafor 1-3 0-0 2, Kirschbaum 2-6 4-4 10, Meinders 0-7 0-0 0, Whitehead 5-11 0-0 10, Hanks 1-2 2-2 4, Madison 3-6 1-2 7, O’Brien 2-4 3-3 7. Totals: 20-50 10-11 52.



Halftime: Wayne State 36, Minnesota State 21. 3-point shooting: Wayne State 8-17 (Shelby 0-3, Seroyer 3-7, Holdsworth 1-2, Bauschek 1-1, Rolfzen 3-4), Minnesota State 2-14 (Kirschbaum 2-4, Meinders 0-6, Whitehead 0-1, Hanks 0-1, Madison 0-2). Rebounds: Wayne State 33 (Williams 11), Minnesota State 28 (Kirschbaum 6). Assists: Wayne State 12 (Shelby, Aloung 3), Minnesota State 10 (Meinders 3). Steals: Wayne State 9 (Shelby 3), Minnesota State 4 (Kirschbaum 2). Turnovers: Wayne State 11, Minnesota State 14. Total fouls: Wayne State 15, Minnesota State 15. Fouled out: none.

Attendance: 1,103.

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