Men's basketball rally falls short in 85-81 loss at Minnesota State University

Friday, January 2

Mankato, MN

8 p.m.

St. Cloud State

7-6 (3-4NSIC)

Minnesota State University - Mankato

10-2 (5-1NSIC)

St. Cloud State

Minnesota State

Photo by: Brad Olson

Men's basketball rally falls short in 85-81 loss at Minnesota State University

1/2/2015 11:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Mankato, Minn. – A 23-10 run in the second half fell short as the St. Cloud State men's basketball team lost to Minnesota State University, Mankato, 85-81 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate (NSIC) contest Friday night in Mankato.

The Huskies record dropped to 7-6 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC. St. Cloud State will play at Concordia-St. Paul Saturday with the tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m. Minnesota State University improved to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in the NSIC.

Trailing 52-35 with 15 minutes left in the second half the Huskies went on a 23-10 over the next five minutes to draw within four points, 62-58 of the Mavericks. Junior guard Jordan Poydras (Los Angeles, Calif.) scored nine points in the run and the Huskies combined to make five three-point baskets during the span.

Minnesota State went back on top by 10, 70-60 with seven minutes left in the game and once again the Huskies went on the attack with an 8-2 run that drew them to within one points, 72-71 with just under five minutes to play. The Huskies drew to within one point three more times, the last on a Connor Niehaus (Fremont, Neb.) layup with :56 seconds to play. Minnesota State's Assem Marei and Zach Monaghan made four free throws in the final four seconds to seal the win.

Poydras finished the game with 26 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Marei led the Mavericks with 32 points and 15 rebounds.

Huskies Tip-Ins
Senior center James Fort (South Haven, Minn.) scored 15 points on five of six shooting from the floor and made five of eight free throws.
Sophomore guard Chuckie Smith (Minneapolis, Minn.) added 13 points and made four of five three-point baskets. He hit two three's in the Huskies 23-10 run.
The Huskies shot 60 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game at 46 percent.

Mavericks Notes