Mavericks shoot down Skyhawks, advance to Elite Eight

Four thousand fans packed the Taylor Center to watch the Maverick seniors put on a show, and blow past Fort Lewis College 81-63 to claim the NCAA central region title.

Tuesday night's NCAA central region championship game started off in strange fashion as Fort Lewis was given a pregame technical foul for having an error in on their official roster card. Marcus Hill stepped to the line, drained 2 free throws, and gave MSU a 2-0 lead before the game had even officially tipped off.


After the unexpected start to the game, both teams settled into the fast pace, back and forth game everyone expect it would be. Both teams traded runs throughout the first half. MSU took the first significant lead at 25-16 on the heels of a Jefferson Mason hoop and harm. Fort Lewis then went on a 9-0 run of their own, highlighted by seven points from senior guard David Kanyinda to tie the game at 25-25.


The Mavericks then started to slowly pull away, finding themselves with a 10 point lead thanks to the hard nose effort in the paint by Jefferson Mason, and Cameron Hodges. Both seniors finished the first half with 14 and 13 points respectively. A Conner O'Brien tip in at the buzzer gave MSU a 44-34 lead at the half.

After mounting a 10 point lead before halftime, the Mavericks continued to keep their foot on the gas throughout the second half. Matt Morris converted a free throw after a hoop and foul with 16:08 left in the second half to to bring the Skyhawks within eight points at 49-41. But was as close as the Skyhawks would get.

With strong second half performances from Mason, Hodges, and Drapcho, MSU easily coasted to a 81-63 victory and punch their ticket to Springfield, MA, and the DII NCAA Elite Eight.

The Maverick seniors lead the way, as they have all season. Jefferson Mason finished with 26 points and 17 rebounds on the night. Cameron Hodges tallied 23 points and 6 rebounds, while Marcus Hill dished out a career high 13 assists.

An ecstatic coach Margenthaler chatted after the game with The Fan's Casey Lloyd, "This is what I envisioned ten years ago when I started here. We did it, we absolutely did it, and we're going to the Elite Eight!"

"Our role players stepped op, Joe Dapcho was the key, Jimmy whitehead played a nice game, and defensively we did a nice job", Margenthaler added.

MSU will play again on Wednesday, March 23rd at 1:30pm against Alabama-Huntsville.