Mankato, Minn. -- The Minnesota State men’s basketball team started the game on a 9-0 run and opened an 22-4 lead with 14 minutes and 49 seconds left in the first half en route to a 105-73 victory over Maryville in the 2009 Pepsi Tip-Off.
The game marked the third 100-point contest by Minnesota State in the event and the second time in as many years that MSU has reached the century mark in the Pepsi Tip-Off.
“I was really happy with the way that we started the game tonight,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler. “It was nice to see our bench get a lot of minutes. We did a lot of good things tonight, but we will have to do some things better tomorrow against Nebraska-Kearney.”
Maryville would pull within seven at 32-25 with 7:46 remaining in the first half before Minnesota State used a 17-5 run to close the first half and open a 49-30 lead at the break.
Minnesota State maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half to earn their 15th straight victory in the Pepsi Tip-Off.
Senior wing Jefferson Mason led MSU with 18 points and 10 rebounds, recording his second double-double in as many games. Senior guard Jermain Davis added a team-high 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting – including three highlight reel dunks – to go with five assists. Junior guard Marcus Hill added 14 points and senior center Travis Nelson rounded out the Mavericks in double-digits with 12 points.
Minnesota State finished the game shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, while limiting Maryville to 39.7 percent – including an icy 33.3 percent in the first half. The Mavericks hauled in 52 rebounds – their second 50-plus rebound of the season – 18 of which were of the offensive variety.
Senior guard Jesse Clark added a game-high six assists in the victory.
Minnesota State (2-0) plays Nebraska-Kearney Saturday evening to close out the Pepsi Tip-Off.
To view the box score of this game, click HERE
To view the box score of the Nebraska Kearney vs. Minnesota Duluth game, click HERE
To view Minnesota State's updated season stats, click HERE