MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State Mavericks (30-2) defeated Arkansas Tech (25-7) on Saturday, 75-68. The Mavericks had five players with 15+ points, including Dylan Peeters and Justin Eagins, who both had 18 points.

The first half featured 13 lead changes as neither team led by more than 20 points through the first 20 minutes. Five minutes into the game, the Mavericks and Wonder Boys were tied at 6-6, but an 11-6 run by ATU would put the Wonder Boys up 17-12 with 10:28 to go in the half.

Over the next 8:20 of the half, the Mavericks put together a 20-12 run of their own that featured eight points from Peeters as MSU went up by three at 32-29 with 1:50 remaining. The final two minutes of the game saw four more lead changes as the Mavericks carried a 36-35 lead into halftime.

Peeters led all scorers in the first half with 14 points and five rebounds. Kyreese Willingham notched seven points also. As a team, MSU shot 40.6% from the field in the opening stanza.

Kade Shaffer led the Wonder Boys in the first half with 12 points, while Cassius Brooks tallied nine points. As a team, ATU shot 48.4% from the field in the first half.

The Mavericks opened up the second half going 8-11 from three, capped off from a three sunk by Eagins to put MSU up by 10 with 12 and a half minutes left in regulation. However, Shaffer responded with a three at the other end to cut into the lead.

Another three from M. Willingham put the team up by 14 about halfway through the second half, 67-53. However, Arkansas Tech shoved back, cutting the Maverick lead to five after an 8-0 run over three and a half minutes.

A pair of scores for Eagins put Minnesota State up by nine with 3:11 left to play. Despite attempts from Arkansas Tech to get back into the game, the Mavericks closed out the game, winning 75-68.
Minnesota State shot 45% from the field against the Wonder Boys, making 13-25 from beyond the arc and 12-17 from the charity stripe. The team ended with four blocks and seven steals, while only turning the ball over 10 times.

Both Peeters and Eagins ended with 18 points. Peeters finished with seven rebounds, one block and one steal while not missing a shot, going 5-5 from the field and making all eight of his free throws. Eagins made four threes in the game and had five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Both Willingham brothers had 15 points against the Wonder Boys.

Arkansas Tech shot a 44% field goal percentage, sinking 6-18 from three and 12-14 from the free throw line. The team dominated down low, scoring 32 points in the paint. Brooks ended with 22 points and Shaffer scored 20.

Minnesota State will take on the winner between MSU Moorhead and Pittsburg State tomorrow evening, Sunday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Taylor Center in Mankato.