SIOUX FALLS – When the University of Sioux Falls men's basketball team and Minnesota State meet in the Stewart Center, something special usually happens. It did again on Friday as the Cougars (8-19, 5-16 in the NSIC), led by 20 points from Charles Ward and 19 from Mack Johnson, battled the third-place Mavericks all night before falling, 78-73.
“I felt like we gave a great effort tonight,” said seventh year USF head basketball coach Chris Johnson. “We had some opportunities down the stretch but missed free throws and turnovers hurt us. We battled all night and showed some really great things tonight. We just lost to a really good basketball team,” he said.
Ward, who came back after missing the Augustana game last Saturday, hit 6-of-11 shots from the field and 7-of-11 free throws for 20 points. It was his 10th, 20-point outing for the season and the 16th of his career. Johnson had his 19 on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. He reached double digits for the 17th time this season and 24th in his career. Also in double figures was junior forward Jordan Stotts with 15 points along with five rebounds. Stotts, who has 24 double digit scoring games in his career, hit 5-of-8 from the floor and all five of his free throws.
While the Cougars were hurt by some missed free throws in the final five minutes, they hit 23-of-28 overall for 82.1 percent, which is nearly 16 percent better than (66.4%) their season average. USF was 23-of-49 from the floor for 46.9 percent. USF struggled from 3-point range, making just 4-of-14 for 28.6 percent.
MSU, which improved to 21-6 overall and 16-5 in league play, was led by its all-league tandem of center Assem Marei, who had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and point guard Zach Monaghan, who had 25 points and six assists. Marei was 15-of-19 from the field while Monaghan did major damage at the charity stripe, hitting 13-of-15. The Mavericks were 26-of-51 from the floor for 51 percent, including 4-of-12 from distance. MSU, which held a 31-25 rebound edge, hit 22-of-31 free throws for 71 percent.
The Mavericks jumped out quickly on the Cougars, rolling up a 14-2 lead just 4:27 into the half (15:33). But, the Cougars, which lost a third straight game, battled back cutting the deficit to 17-10 at the 12:40 mark. Down 20-12, USF had a 7-0 run, including a four-point play from Ward (3-pointer, free throw) with 10:04 left to close within 20-19. After MSU opened up a 27-21 lead on three foul shots by Monaghan, USF had a 13-7 run to tie the score at 34 with 3:31 to play. The team traded baskets with the Cougars taking a one-point lead into halftime when Ward had a free throw with 58 seconds left. It was the second time in two games with MSU this year that USF has led at halftime (USF led 29-27 at MSU).
In the opening half, USF, which was tied in points of the paint with MSU at 22, hit 15-of-33 from the field for 45.5 percent. They were 11-of-12 from the foul line but just 1-of-7 from three-point range. MSU hit 15-of-27 field goals for 55.5 percent and were 4-of-7 at the foul line. MSU, which got 19 points from Assem Marei, hit 4-of-9 from deep.
Down one at the break, the Mavericks came out strong in the opening 3:20 of the second half, going on a 6-0 run for a 45-39 lead (16:40). But Ward, who had 14 points in the first half, had an offensive rebound, basket and one to cut the lead to 45-42 with 16:25 to play. Later, after Bryan Kielpinski, who had seven points and three rebounds and a blocked shot, scored inside, USF was within 53-49 with nine minutes to play. The block by Kielpinski gave him 130 for his career.
At the 8:08 mark, M. Johnson hit a deep three from the left side to draw USF within 54-52. But, MSU had an answer with an 8-4 run, led by Marei with two baskets, including one up, under and around a triple team. Marei's basket built MSU's lead 62-56 with 5:48 left in the game. Once again, the Cougars responded, cutting the margin to 63-61 when Stotts hit a layup with 4:37 left on the clock.
Down three (66-63, 3:56) and with possession, the Cougars turned the ball over, which MSU and Marei turned into their advantage. Marei, who later fouled out, scored inside for a 68-63 lead. A three-point from M. Johnson with 1:44 kept USF within 69-65 but they could not draw any close than four points the rest of the way.
On Saturday night, the Cougars will conclude the regular season with a home game against Concordia-St. Paul at 6 p.m. Prior to the game, USF will recognize its two seniors, Ward and Kielpinski with a special ceremony.
