Basketball splits last two games of regular season

The team begins the first round of the NSIC Tournament Wednesday night at home

Aaron Young
Staff Writer

The Maverick men’s basketball team had quite the weekend, winning in a game that went down to the wire against Upper Iowa on Friday night, before falling to Winona State in their regular season finale on Saturday night. 

In their game against the Upper Iowa Peacocks, it was a battle of the fittest in the first half, with neither team getting the upper hand early on in the game. 

With multiple lead changes throughout the first half, the Mavericks would finally find a groove going on a 13-7 run after the Peacocks led 22-21.  

In response to that, however, the Peacocks would go on a 13-6 run of their own, taking the 42-40 lead at half. 

The second half was a testament to the Mavericks because while the Peacocks led throughout most of the half, getting to a 65-55 lead, the Mavs stomped their way back into the game, tying it at 72 a piece with 1:24 to go in the game. 

MSU would then take their first lead of the night after sophomore guard Jamal Nixon hit two free throws form the line, putting the game at 74-73 Mavericks. 

Upper Iowa would fail to connect on their shots at first but it was Joe Smoldt who scored on a jumper with seven seconds in the game. 

The Mavericks took it to the other end and with the time winding down, junior guard Kevin Krieger put up a prayer and connected on a three to win the game!

Junior forward Cameron Kirksey, along with Krieger, scored 22 points each on the game, with Krieger was having 11 rebounds on the game, his fourth double-double of the season.

In the season finale on the road against Winona State, the Mavericks had a tough game.

In the first half, both teams couldn’t find an edge but it was Winona State who led 21-17 with 10 minutes left in the half. The Warriors would go on a 13-4 run to get the lead to 34-21. 

The Mavericks tried coming back on multiple occasions but Winona State wound up making nine of the last 11 points. Putting the game at 47-30 at the half. 

The second half was all Winona State, as they would keep a double-digit lead en route to an 84-56 victory. 

Krieger led the Mavericks with 14 points, and Kirksey added 11 of his own and seven rebounds. 

Altogether, the Mavs shot a 36.7 percent from the field, and were 7-9 from the free throw line. 

On the year, the Mavericks were 18-10 overall and 14-8 In conference play. 

The Mavericks are ranked No. 1 in their division, and will face Bemidji State in the first round of the NSIC tournament. The game is this Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Taylor Center.  

Feature photo by Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter.