Men’s Basketball Wins 72-64 Contest Over Minnesota State

Saturday, November 25

Mankato, MN

4 p.m.

St. Cloud State

Minnesota State University - Mankato

Jon Averkamp

Photo by: Paul Middlestaedt

11/25/2017 6:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Mankato, Minn. – Senior Jon Averkamp scored a game-high 19 points to lead the St. Cloud State men's basketball team (3-2) to a 72-64 road victory over Minnesota State (3-2) on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn. The win over Minnesota State was the first for the program in the last eight games.

Averkamp shot 8-for-13 from the field and also knocked down a three plus two three-point field goals in scoring his 19 points. He also had five rebounds and three steals. Junior Sean Smith recorded his second double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Smith also led the team with two blocks and tied for the team lead with three assists. Sophomore Trevon Marshall provided a spark off the bench in scoring 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field. Marshall also tied for the team lead with three assists plus had a steal. Junior Brindley Theisen recorded 11 points, four rebounds and a steal. Freshman Tristen Hull picked up four points and four rebounds.

The Mavericks put three players in double figures and were led by Kevin Krieger's 17 points and 10 rebounds. Charlie Brown had 16 points and three assists. Cameron Kirksey totaled 11 points and six rebounds.

The Huskies shot 45 percent from the field for the game (27-for-60). The program also hit 22.2 percent of their threes (2-for-9) and 64 percent (16-for-25) of their free throws. The Mavericks shot 45.3 percent from the field (24-for-53), 33.3 percent from three-point range (5-for-15) and 61 percent from the line (11-for-18). SCSU's biggest advantage came on the board were the team held a 40-35 advantage including 11 offensive rebounds to Minnesota State's six.

Minnesota State led 32-31 at the break, but SCSU were able to win the last 20 minutes of action 41-32. The game featured 11 tied scores and 16 lead changes. SCSU took the lead for good on the first of two made free throws from junior Jace Kitchen with 6:41 remaining in the game. The team's largest lead was 10 points when Smith hit a free throw to put SCSU up 69-59.

St. Cloud State men's basketball now begins NSIC league play with a trip next week to Minnesota Crookston on Dec. 1 for an 8 p.m. contest and a trip to Bemidji State on Dec. 2 for a 6 p.m. game.

Notes:
- Jon Averkamp has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in all five games this season including four games with 19 or more points.
- Averkamp has now made seven three-pointers this season and that is as many as he had made in the first three years of his career combined.
- Sean Smith has reached double figures in rebounding in four of the five games including a pair of double-doubles.
- Brindley Theisen has scored in double figures in four of the five games.
- The win for SCSU over Minnesota State was the first for the program since the 2011-12 season and ended a seven game losing streak to the Mavericks.