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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- The #15 Minnesota State men's basketball team put together a strong second half Monday evening as the Mavericks defeated Southwest Minnesota State 68-57 in the third round of the NSIC Tournament.

With the win, MSU improves to 28-4 on the season, while SMSU falls to 19-12. The Mavericks 28 wins tie a single-season record that was last achieved during the 2012-13 season.

Once again, senior Gage Wooten led the Maverick offense as he notched a game-high 21 points, to go along with nine rebounds. Senior Tanner Adler dropped in 18 points, on a 6-of-13 showing from behind the arc, while Connor O'Brien tallied 14 points and eight rebounds.

Junior Assem Marei brought down a team-high 10 rebounds, while junior Zach Monaghan passed out a game-high 11 assists.

MSU finished the game shooting 39.7% from the field (23-of-58). The Mavericks also made their presence felt on the glass as they outrebounded the Mustangs 44-32.

William Giddings led the Mustang offense with 17 points.

The first half saw a close contest as SMSU led throughout most of the first 20 minutes. The Mustangs led by as many as eight points, only to see the Mavericks chip away at their lead. MSU managed to pull within one point of the Mustangs at 28-27, but SMSU would extend its lead back to four points at 33-29 before heading into the locker room.

O'Brien and Wooten led the MSU offense in the first half with nine points each.

As a team, MSU shot 34.4% from the field, to go along with 21 rebounds in the first half.

Giddings led the SMSU offense in the first half with 14 points.

The Mavericks wasted no time in the second half as they quickly retook the lead at 38-37 with 17:24 to go in the game. The lead would change hands three more time in the second half, but MSU would take the lead for good as it went up 53-51 with 7:10 remaining. The Mavericks would finish the game on a 15-6 run, en route to a 68-57 win.

MSU will look to claim its second NSIC Tournament championship in as many seasons as it takes on Winona State Tuesday in the final round of the NSIC Tournament. The opening tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

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