by Dax Larson
November 29, 2005
Junior Luke Anderson has scored 20 points or more in all five games this season. Last weekend Anderson had 58 points in 60 minutes, including a career-high 30 points in a loss to undefeated Northern State.
Anderson is having a career year on offense. He leads the conference in points per game with 26.4. Unfortunately, there is no one else on the team to support him. Anderson had 30 of the Mavericks' 63 points in the loss against Northern State on 11-16 shooting. The rest of the team was 10-38 from the floor.
“It's tough playing well and not getting the win,” Anderson said. “My focus level is high.”
In a win against Southwest Minnesota State Friday, the Mavericks were able to dominate on both ends of the floor. Behind Anderson's first-half performance of six three-pointers and a game-leading five rebounds, MSU was able to take a 41- 24 lead. In the second half MSU kept the lead, but lost the quarter 35-31. Anderson finished with 28 points and eight rebounds, a game-high for both teams. Junior Paris Kyles added 11 points and five steals. Senior Corey Easley had 13 points for MSU. The Mavericks continued to have a good assist-to-turnover ratio dishing out 18 assists and only giving up 12 turnovers.
“We had a good first half,” Anderson said. “Felt good to get a win.”
In the second half of Friday's match Anderson felt the Mavericks didn't play like they did in the first — and it may have carried over into Saturday's game. MSU had the lead 23-21 10 minutes into the game, but a 16-0 run by Northern State proved to be the end of the game for the Mavericks. During the run by Northern State, MSU went 0-5 and had three turnovers. Anderson ended the six minute scoring drought with a three-pointer to put the Mavericks down 37-26. At half MSU was down 48-33.
“We backed down,” head coach Matt Margenthaler said. “We played scared and timid. We let them dictate how the game was going to be played.”
MSU could only cut the deficit to twelve before Northern State went on a 14-0 run five minutes into the second half. It was smooth sailing for Northern State after the run and they went on to win 77-63. MSU committed more turnovers than they had assists. They have done this in both losses this season. Margenthaler attributes the large runs to a lack of focus.
“We are not a very focused basketball team right now,” Margenthaler said. “We lose it mentally. We need to get to where we can play a complete game.”
Wednesday MSU will take its 3-2 record to Iowa to face Upper Iowa. Margenthaler said the starting line-up is wide open. He feels he needs to send a message to the team and a roster switch will help his team realize what they need to do.
Saturday, MSU faces off against Winona State at the Taylor Center at 2 p.m. The Mavericks will look for revenge as they fell to the Warriors in the season opener 81-72.
Dax Larson is a Reporter staff writer
