MANKATO — You know you had a good day when you trail for a whopping total of 16 seconds.
That’s exactly what happened with Minnesota State men’s basketball Saturday with a 98-83 home win over Bemidji State. The Mavericks, winners of four-straight, improve to 11-9 overall and 6-7 in NSIC play.
“We can win in different ways,” MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler said. “We didn’t deviate from what we’re supposed to do. We stayed the course, and good things happened.”
Turning the calendar from 2025 to 2026 has seen MSU re-claim its stride. Entering Christmas break the Mavericks were 7-8 after a 98-90 road loss to Sioux Falls on Dec. 20. But outside of a 75-67 road loss to Sioux Falls, the same team which thwarted the Mavericks 73-53 in Mankato on Nov. 25, the purple and gold have found ways to get back in the win column.
There’s the 68-65 road win over University of Mary sealed by late free throws from Traijan Sain and Arhman Lewis. Then came a 72-65 road win over Minot State led by Sain’s 19 points and seven rebounds. Friday night saw a 10-2 run in the second half prove to be the difference in a narrow 80-77 home win over Minnesota Duluth.
Saturday’s game didn’t bring the dramatics or blood pressure raising insanity. Instead, the Mavericks shot red hot on a day where the weather outside of Taylor Center was face-numbingly frigid.
MSU shot 36 of 62 (58.1%) from the floor, 14 of 26 (53.8%) from 3-point range and 12 of 15 from the free throw line.
“We’ve been shooting the ball extremely badly in the first (half of the season). That was our Achilles heel. We just could not make shots,” Margenthaler said. “But lately we’ve been shooting the ball extremely well, which opens everything up. We’ve not only been shooting, but we’re taking good shots.”
Sain led the charge for the Mavericks with 20 points, shooting 7 of 12 from the floor and 5 of 8 from downtown.
“We definitely feel like we’re in a rhythm here,” Sain said. “It starts in practice on Monday, coming back ready to work and keep it rolling into next weekend.”
Lewis earned a double-double with 16 points and 12 assists. Caden Kirkman contributed 17 points while shooting 7 of 9 from the floor.
The Mavericks host Northern State at 7:30 p.m. Friday.