ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The No. 24 ranked St. Cloud State University men’s basketball team came back in thrilling fashion from a late double-digit deficit to take a last second 64-63 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win over Minnesota State University, Mankato Friday night in Halenbeck Hall.The win also marked victory 299 for SCSU Head Coach Kevin Schlagel.

The Huskies (18-4, 14-4 NSIC) trailed 57-44 with 7:46 to go in the game, but held the Mavericks (7-15, 6-11 NSIC) scoreless for over four minutes to tie the game up, to set up a wild finish that came down to the Huskies’ last possession.

With the clock winding down and the Huskies down 63-62, freshman Kevin Levandoski (Appleton, Wis.) had an open look in the lane with 12 seconds to go but missed the shot, but sophomore Tim Bergstraser (St. Cloud) was able to grab the lose-ball rebound under the rim and put it back in for the game-winner.

Senior captain Brett Putz (Forest City, Iowa) scored a team-high 22 points, including 12 second-half points to lead the Huskies’ comeback.

Putz was 8-for-15 from the floor to go with a 6-for-11 night from beyond the arc, which tied a season high in three pointers.

He also moved into sole possession of third place on the SCSU all-time three-point field goals list and now has 228 in his career.

Bergstraser finished the night one rebound short of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds.

The MSU pick and roll combination of Connor O’Brien and Jimmy Whitehead turned out 44 points, with O’Brien scoring a game-high 23 in the loss.

He was 9-for-16 from the field and had 11 rebounds to post the only double-double of the night.

The Huskies ended the night shooting nearly 45 percent from the field (26-58), while Mankato shot 45 percent on a 23-51 night.

St. Cloud State will remain at home Saturday afternoon when they host Southwest Minnesota State University at 6:00 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall.

The Huskies lost their first game of the season 85-81 to SMSU on the road earlier this season.