Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Mens Sports

Media Credit: Raymond Starin Minnesota State's Atilla Santos (50) and Jadee Jones battle for an offensive rebound in the second half against Southwest Minnesota State Tuesday.

Media Credit: Raymond Starin Minnesota State junior guard Jake Morrow flushes a slam dunk on a fast break against Southwest Minnesota State Tuesday at the Taylor Center.

After Minnesota State failed to stop Southwest Minnesota State's offense for most of the first half, a defensive stand looked like the last thing to expect.

But one did happen immediately after halftime.

The Mavericks were tied at the break, but went on a big run and held their opponent off the scoreboard on Minnesota State's way to an 81-72 victory over the Mustangs in a nonconference men's basketball game Tuesday night at the Taylor Center.

"It is all about defensive effort," said MSU coach Matt Margenthaler. "And I was not happy with it at all in the first half.

"I was very displeased at halftime."

Both teams shot over 55 percent in the first half. After trailing 27-21 midway through the opening 20 minutes, the Mavericks rallied to take a lead after Jake Morrow grabbed a defensive rebound, pulled up and knocked down a 3-pointer to give his team a one-point advantage before SMSU pull back ahead 31-28.

The Mavericks went ahead five more times before the break, but every time the Mustangs had an answer to tie the game.

"When they got the game tied, their pressure really increased on us," Margenthaler said. "We backed down on both ends of the floor."

The game was tied at 43 at halftime.

"For us defensively, there's no reason for any team to put that many on us," freshman Preston Whitaker said. "That should be our mindset and one of our goals."

The way Minnesota State came out in the second half, though, was not so easy to explain.

Margenthaler's team held the Mustangs off the scoreboard for nearly half of the last 20 minutes, until a layup from SMSU's Ryan Krome with 10:12 remaining finally got the Mustangs some points. It was too late, as the Mavericks had gone on a 19-0 run in the process to put the game out of reach.

Whitaker scored 15 points in the victory. Morrow had a game-high 23 points - 17 in the first half - to go with a season-high nine rebounds. Atila Santos scored 18 points and Jadee Jones added 11 points.

It marked the second straight outing that the Mavericks played tough defense for at least part of the game. Last Thursday against St. Cloud State, Whitaker drew a tough assignment on SCSU's leading-scorer, David Dreas. Whitaker, who graduated from St. Cloud Apollo, took the responsibility far beyond his freshman status, holding Dreas to zero points.

"I knew coming into the season, coach wanted me to be one of the defensive guys on the team," Whitaker said. "I took it as a challenge to prove to them, our fans and coach that putting me on their top guard was the right decision."

Tuesday's game marked the end of the nonconference season for the Mavericks. They will see the Mustangs in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference beginning next year.

The Mavericks (14-4) have won five in a row and will be on the road for their next three games beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday against Augustana.


Chris Jagerson is a Reporter staff writer

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