by Dax Larson
Issue date: 12/5/06
Section: Mens Sports
After getting away from home and playing a couple games in Colorado, it appears the Minnesota State men's basketball team has finally come together as a team. MSU had some issues of playing games as a team so far this season, but head coach Matt Margenthaler hopes this Colorado trip is what turns it around.
"We had to come together to win those games," Margenthaler said. "After spending time in the car, hotel and at meals, I hope this is what turns it around for this team."
The magic number for MSU was 74 at the Western State Tournament in Gunnison, Colo. The Mavericks went 2-0 defeating Colorado-Colorado Springs Friday and Western State College Saturday, scoring 74 in both victories. The Mavericks held the lead for most of the second half against UC-Colorado Springs and the entire second half against Western State.
MSU has been notorious for starting games slowly this season. The Mavericks seem to start games with a lack of passion and intensity, forcing Margenthaler to sit most of his starters early in games. Luckily for Margenthaler, he can rely on his bench.
"We are 7-1 because of the depth of this team," Margenthaler said. "Going into the season, the bench was an unknown. They've really stepped up."
"There is a lot of pressure on the starters," sophomore Mitch Gosson said. "The bench takes some of that pressure off the starting five, which makes them play loose."
After the Mavericks went down 4-0 in the first four minutes of Saturday's game, Margenthaler pulled most of his starters and put his bench in charge of the game. They rose to the challenge and got MSU back into the game. Gosson got the scoring started with three unanswered points. Freshman Kurt Greenly added two more with a pass from Gosson to make the game 6-5. On the next offensive possession, freshman Jesse Clark assisted on senior Luke Anderson's 3-pointer for MSU's first lead of the game. The Mavericks carried the lead the rest of the contest.
"We came in and started the offense," Gosson said. "We got the lead to 10-6 and the starters took it from there."
MSU quickly increased the lead to 10 and had a lead as large as 25 before the final buzzer sounded with the final score at 74-57. Anderson and senior Paris Kyles finished as the only two Mavericks in double figures, scoring 15 points each.
Friday, the Mavericks had yet another slow start and got down as much as seven before getting only their second lead of the game with 35 seconds left in the first half. After the break the Mavericks proved they are a second-half team by taking the lead and keeping it at the 15-minute mark. UC-Colorado Springs got as close as two with 1:23 left, but two key free throws by Kyles clinched the game for MSU with 17 seconds left. MSU went 12-for-15 from the line in the game.
"We make the free throws, we are going to win the game," Margenthaler said. "We executed on both ends of the floor both Friday and Saturday."
The Mavericks play Bethany Lutheran College tonight at the Taylor Center with tip-off set for 7 p.m.
Dax Larson is a Reporter staff writer
