MANKATO, Minn. --- It went down to the wire Sunday evening in Taylor Center, but it was the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats that would come out on top as they handed #9 Minnesota State a 71-66 loss.

With the loss, MSU wraps up its season with a 30-5 record, while NWMSU improves to 24-8. The Bearcats will take on Central Missouri in the finals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament Tuesday, at 7 p.m., in Taylor Center.

Juniors Assem Marei and Zach Monaghan paced the MSU offense with 16 points each, with Monaghan adding seven assists as well. Senior Connor O'Brien notched 12 points and nine rebounds as well.

As a team, MSU shot 43.4% from the field and brought down 37 rebounds.

DeShaun Cooper led the Bearcat offense with 25 points. NWMSU shot 40.4% from the field and connected on 25-of-28 (.893) shots from the charity stripe.
 
The first half saw the Bearcats control the tempo as they led through the final 15 minutes of the opening session. NMSU led by as many 20 before the Mavericks cut the deficit to 39-26 heading into the locker room.

Monaghan led the Mavericks with 11 points in the first half. As a team, MSU shot 42.9% from the field to go along with 16 rebounds.

Zach Schneider led the Bearcats in the first half with 13 points. As a team, Northwest Missouri State shot 44.4% from the field in the first half and brought down 18 rebounds.

More than 10 minutes into the second half the Mavericks found themselves trailing by 10 at 55-45 with 9:36 remaining. MSU would bring the deficit into single-digits quickly as the Mavericks slowly chipped away at Northwest Missouri State's lead.

With 36 seconds left in the game a pair of free throws from Monaghan brought MSU within one at 67-66. The Bearcats would answer with a pair of free throws to go back up by three with 23 seconds left.

With 15 seconds left in the game, senior Gage Wooten put up a three point shot to tie it but it missed the mark, as the Bearcats brought down the rebound. A basket by Cooper put the Bearcats up five as they went on to secure the 71-66 win.

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