Photo by Sam Thiel SMSU’s Kaden Evans slams home a dunk during their game against MSU Mankato on Sunday. The Mustangs fell to the Mavericks 60-40 on Saturday and 95-67 on Sunday.

MARSHALL — Playing in its first game in two weeks, the Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team faced some roadblocks against Minnesota State University, Mankato. With three starters out due to COVID-19 protocols, the Mustangs struggled on the offensive end of the floor in a 60-40 loss to the Mavericks Saturday before falling 95-67 on Sunday.

Similar to Saturday’s start, the Mavericks found their rhythm on offense early, going up 12-4 before SMSU got five straight points from Alex Hillesheim to cut the deficit to six at 15-9 with 14:46 left in the first half. MSU Mankato then connected on a 3-pointer to extend its lead to double digits, but the Mustangs had an answer. Nick Dufault went on a personal 7-0 run before Kaden Evans drilled a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game at 23-21 with 9:43 left.

But that was the closest SMSU got the rest of the frame, as a pair of 3-pointers helped fuel a 21-4 run by MSU Mankato over the next eight minutes and build a 44-25 advantage before taking a 46-31 lead into halftime.

Both teams traded points in the opening minutes of the second half before MSU Mankato got a 3-point play to go up 22 at 62-40 with 14:37 left. The Mavericks would continue to lead by at least 17 for the next several minutes before a dunk and a 3-pointer by MSU made it 81-51 with under eight to play en route to the 95-67 victory.

Dufault led SMSU with 18 points while Evans added 15, Hillesheim had 13 and Jake Phipps had 12. Hillesheim led in rebounds with six while Evans led in assists with four. As a team, SMSU shot 45.6% (26 of 57) from the field, including 31.8% from 3-point range (7 of 22).

Defensively, SMSU allowed MSU Mankato to shoot 55.2% (37 of 67) from the field, including 12 of 23 from 3-point range.

Saturday

MSU Mankato 60,

SMSU 40

In the opener Saturday, MSU Mankato raced out to a quick lead, going up 7-2 before a 3-point play gave the Mavericks its first double-digit advantage at 12-2 with 17:27 left in the first half. SMSU battled back, however, using a Dufault jumper and a Weston Baker Magrath layup to cut the deficit to five at 14-9 before Evans connected on a 3-point play to make it a two-point game at 16-14 with 9:35 left.

Then the Mustangs went cold on offense, failing to find the bottom of the basket for more than five minutes. MSU Mankato would go on a 10-0 run during that stretch, but SMSU continued to fight. After Jake Phipps got a layup to stop the scoreless streak, Evans and Dufault followed it up with baskets to draw to within six at 26-20 going into halftime.

The two teams traded points to start the second half, but MSU gained some momentum with a 3-pointer to go up 33-22 with 15:33 left. The Mavericks kept up the offense over the next few minutes, going on an 8-0 spurt before Dufault hit a jumper to stop the run. SMSU’s offense continued to struggle to find the bottom of the basket, as MSU Mankato would lead by as many as 26 at 55-29. Hillesheim connected on a 3-pointer – the first of the game for SMSU – with 4:48 left, but the Mavericks came away with the 20-point victory.

Dufault led SMSU with 12 points while Baker Magrath added 10 and Hillesheim recorded six. Evans and Issac Soumis led in rebounds with six each while Hillesheim led in assists with two. As a team, SMSU shot just 31.1% (14 of 45) from the field, including 1 of 15 from 3-point range.

Defensively, the Mustangs held MSU Mankato to 40% shooting (22 of 55), including 6 of 22 from 3-point range and forced 14 turnovers.

Up next

SMSU (2-4) will face Concordia-St. Paul next weekend, beginning with a Friday matchup at 6 p.m.