MANKATO, MINN. – Despite a combined 42 points from Mack Johnson and Charles Ward, the University of Sioux Falls men's basketball team dropped a 76-62 decision to #20 Minnesota State on Saturday night before 1,752 in attendance at the Taylor Center.
USF, which led 29-27 at halftime, was outscored, 49-33, in the second half as Minnesota State improved to 16-3 overall and 11-2 in the NSIC South (2nd). USF, which led for 23:01 of the 40-minute game, trailed 70-62 with 1:53 to play but MSU scored the final six points of the game to take a double digit victory. The loss dropped USF to 7-13 overall and 4-10 in the NSIC.
“We played well for nearly 35 minutes and then had a five-minute stretch that hurt us in the second half,” USF head men's basketball coach Chris Johnson told USF play-by-play announcer Tom Frederick in a post-game radio interview. “It is hard playing behind against a talented team like that (MSU). Overall, I think we played one of our better games. I liked how together we played. I am proud of our effort,” he said.
M. Johnson, who led the team in scoring for the third straight game, had 23 points as he hit 10-of-19 shots from the field, including 2-of-8 from three-point range. Ward, who reached double digit in points for the 35th time in his career, had 19 points, hitting 6-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range.
The Mavericks were led by their senior tandem of Zach Monaghan and Assem Marei, both NSIC Players of the Year candidates. Marei had 25 points and nine rebounds while Monaghan had 21 points, eight assists and four steals. USF actually outshot the Mavericks from the field, 46.2 percent (24-of-52) to 45.6 percent (26-of-57). However, MSU had the edge in three pointers, 9-to-6 and free throws, 15-to-8. The Cougars had a 33-32 rebound edge, which means USF has outrebounded its 16th opponent in 20 games.
“If we keep working and grinding this out, we will find our way through this stretch,” added Johnson, whose team lost for the sixth straight game.
Led by M. Johnson's offense and tight defense, USF put together one of its best halves this season. Against the nationally ranked Mavs, the Cougars jumped to an early lead and held the edge for all by 46 seconds of the first half. Johnson hit a three to open the scoring and after a dunk by Jordan Stotts, who finished with eight points, the Cougars led 5-0 at the 18:22 mark. MSU responded with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 7-7 after a steal and layup from Monaghan.
After the MSU spurt, USF answered with an 8-0 run for a 15-7 advantage with 13:36 to play. Later Ward scored on a rare four-point play (3-pointer and free throw after being fouled) as the Cougars led, 21-13 (7:14, 1st half). Then, Monaghan brought the Mavs close with back-to-back three-pointers as MSU cut the lead to 23-21 with 4:34 left.
After Mike Busack's three-pointer at the 2:49 mark gave MSU its only lead of the half, MSU's bench was whistled for a technical foul. Stotts hit both free throws and a layup by Zach Wessels, who finished with six points, gave USF a 27-24 edge with 1:41 to play in the half. Monaghan, who knocked down four three-pointers in the game, answered with a three at the 1:18 mark to tie the game at 27-27. USF reserve guard Kebu Johnson scored after an offensive board with 49 seconds left as the Cougars took the 29-27 halftime lead. In that first half, USF hit 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from the field while limiting MSU to 34.4 percent shooting (11-of-32).
Johnson continued to knock in shots early in the second half as his three-pointer enabled the Cougars to build a 36-29 lead with 18:25 to play.
Led by Marei, the Mavericks responded with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 38-38 with 15:21 left to play. Shortly thereafter, Marei, who scored 17 points in the second half, gave MSU its first lead (41-39) in the second half with a dunk. Then, Monaghan and Grant Pope had three-pointers at MSU took a 50-44 lead with 10:26 left second half. Ward hit a big three as USF crawled within 52-49 with 8:45 left in the game but that was as close as the Cougars could get in the final eight plus minutes. MSU outscored USF, 24-13, down the stretch to take the win.
USF will return to the friendly confines of the Stewart Center to face Minnesota-Duluth at 8 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 30 and St. Cloud State at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.
