Box Score
MANKATO, Minn. – For the second straight night, the Northern State University Wolves took a first half lead into the locker room, but could not overcome a slow start to the second half, faltering 75-91 to the 14th ranked Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks Saturday night for the second time in three weekends.
The Wolves slipped to 3-6 on the season and 0-4 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action. NSU's six-game losing skid started with the Wolves' last meeting with the Mavericks back on Nov. 28 as part of the NSIC HoopsFest, a game the Mavericks claimed by a final score of 78-58.
With Saturday's victory, the Mavericks preserved their unblemished season, moving to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in league play.
The Wolves used balanced scoring and limited turnovers to stay in the hunt throughout the first half. No fewer than eight players, including all five starters, put points on the board in that stanza, led by sophomore Alex Thomas with nine. NSU used that effort to head into the break with a 39-37 lead, marking the second straight night that the Wolves have led a nationally ranked opponent at halftime.
The Mavericks, however, would not be contained in the second period, outscoring the Wolves 20-8 to open the half and stretching their lead to as many as 25 points with five and a half minutes left to play before the Wolves trimmed the deficit to 16 by the buzzer.
MSU also forced the Wolves into 11 turnovers in the period and 18 for the game, which resulted in a 21-12 edge in points off turnovers.
Thomas finished with 15 points to lead the way for the Wolves, while sophomore Tramel Barnes added ten and junior Jordan King dished out seven assists.
MSU big man Travis Nelson put up a game-high 23 points and four blocked shots to help keep the Wolves at bay. Jefferson Mason added 17 points and a dozen rebounds to record the game's only double-double.
NSU returns home next weekend for a non-conference meeting with Midland Lutheran College on Friday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in the Barnett Center. The Wolves then break for the Christmas holiday before resuming play on Dec. 28 with another non-conference home game against Hastings College.
