MANKATO, Minn. – Despite 28 points from Drew Guebert and 24 by Trevon Evans, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (12-7, 7-6 NSIC) dropped a 99-82 NSIC decision to a hot-shooting Minnesota State squad (14-4, 10-2 NSIC) at the Taylor Center on Friday night.

With the victory, MSU maintained the lead at the top of the NSIC South Division at 10-2. The loss ended a two-game USF winning streak as the Cougars fell to 7-6 in NSIC play. USF will continue a four-game road swing at Concordia St. Paul on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Guebert, who was 10-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-4 from three-point range, recorded his 10th 20-point game of the season and 22nd of his career. The junior forward from Apple Valley, Minn., also had his 57th double digit scoring game, including 17th this season. He also surpassed 1,200 points in his career and heads into the game with CSP tomorrow with 1,207. Guebert also grabbed six rebounds, and blocked a shot.

Evans, who scored 10 of his 24 points in the first four minutes of the first half, recorded his 16th double digit game of the season and his 10th 20-point game. Evans was 8-of-16 from the field, including 2-of-4 from three point range along with six assists and two steals. USF also had a strong game from Devin Green off the bench with a season-high eight points and three rebounds.

The difference in the game was MSU's torrid shooting, especially from three-point range.  The Mavericks, which hit 62.5 percent (20-of-32) in the second half, hit 56.1 percent from the field (37-66) for the game. MSU, the top three-point shooting team in the NSIC, was particularly effective from long distance, hitting 13-of-20 from three-point range. They were 4-of-6 for 66.7 percent in the first half and 9-of-14 for 64.3 percent in the second half.

Despite outrebounding MSU, 33-30 and shooting 54.1 percent (32-of-59) from the field, USF couldn't keep up with the long distance game of the Mavericks. USF, which was 17-of-31 from the field for 54.8 percent in the second half, was just 4-of-13 from three-point range or were outscored by 27 points from long distance. The Cougars also had 15 turnovers while MSU had just nine.

MSU placed four players in double digits, including Kevin Krieger, who had 24 points including 3-of-4 from three point range. Chris Kendrix added 19 points, including 3-of-5 from distance.  Charlie Brown added 17 and dished out a game-high nine assists.

GAME BREAKDOWN

MSU, which led by as many as 16 points (46-30) in the first half, used advantages from three-point range (4-to-1) and the free throw line (8-to-4) to build a 46-35 lead at the halftime break. MSU hit 17-of-34 shots from the floor for 50 percent, 8-of-9 from the foul line and 4-of-6 from three point range to build the double digit advantage. USF, which had 11 points from Evans and 10 from Guebert, had a strong performance from the field, hitting 15-of-28 field goals for 53.6 percent. However, USF, which led 10-9 (16:45), were 1-of-5 from three point range, committed 12 turnovers and lost the rebounding battle, 17-16.

MSU hit 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) shots to open the game and took a 23-14 lead over the Cougars nine minutes into the game. Evans kept the Cougars close by scoring the team's first 10 points. His basket at the 16:45 mark gave the Cougars their final lead of the game at 10-9. With an 18-7 run, including a 3-pointer from Jamal Nixon, the Mavericks opened up a 27-16 advantage (10:48). Guebert hit a 1-of-2 free throws to cut the lead to 27-19 at the 9:30 mark.  

After MSU took a 12-point lead (31-19), Drew Maschoff converted a lay-up (7:48) to keep USF within 10. However Krieger, who had 15 points in the first half, hit a three, was fouled and made the shot for a 43-28 advantage.  Guebert's 3-pointer with 1:07 to play in the half and then Teachloath Pal, who had six rebounds and four points, made a lay-up (:38) to keep the deficit at 11 going to halftime.

In the second half, MSU opened fast with a trio of 3-pointers, including two from Chris Kendrix, for a 57-39 lead. Down 21, USF received a pair of inside baskets from Green and a three from Evans, who had an "and 1" on a made three to cut the lead to 62-49 with 15:06 left. Later, Guebert scored five straight points as the Cougars pulled within 77-65 with 9:34 to play.  However, that was the closest the Cougars would get on the night.

Despite several attempts to try and trim the deficit in the final 10 minutes, the Mavericks had an answer nearly every time. A jumper by Guebert cut MSU's lead to 92-79 with 3:10 to play. But MSU's Brown answered with a lay-up and hit a three in the final minute to keep USF at bay.