Key player: Blaine Joerger, 32 points, 6 of 9 on 3-pointers.
Key stat: Mankato makes 15 of 23 3-pointers.
By Wayne Nelson
Herald Staff Writer
UND dug another early hole, much like it did a night earlier.
However, instead of clawing its way out -- like they did a night earlier in an overtime victory over St. Cloud State -- Minnesota State-Mankato's Blaine Joerger, Jamous Powell and Dontae Johnson made sure they had control of the shovel.
The three Mankato players then preceded to pour 3-pointer after 3-pointer on the Sioux as the Mavericks cruised to a 100-83 North Central Conference men's basketball victory over UND on Saturday night before 3,017 Hyslop Sports Center fans.
Mankato, receiving 32 points from Joerger and 27 from Powell, made 15 of its 23 3-point attempts. The Mavericks shot a better percentage on 3-pointers (65 percent) than they did overall (57).
"We could play those guys until the year 2000 and never beat them if they play like that," UND coach Rich Glas said. "In fact, I don't know if any team in the league could beat them when they play that way."
The win improved Mankato to 5-2 in the NCC and 12-4 overall. The Mavericks, who swept both UND and North Dakota State on the road for the first time since the 1993-94 season, now is in a good position to challenge for the league title since five of their seven games have been on the road.
The Sioux aren't feeling as good. Riding high after Friday night's 80-77 win over St. Cloud, the loss dropped UND to 5-2 in the NCC and 11-5 overall and knocked it out of first place.
Mankato's shooting even had coach Dan McCarrell's head spinning.
"We were hot," McCarrell said, shaking his head outside the Mankato locker room. "Normally, some of those shots wouldn't have dropped."
The Sioux again started slowly as they did against St. Cloud. This time, however, they were unable to get back into the game.
Two 3-pointers by Joerger and one by Johnson, who finished with 16 points, helped Mankato open a 21-9 lead 7 minutes into the game. Mankato's lead ballooned to 48-30 at halftime as Joerger scored 23 points, one fewer than his league-leading average.
It could have been worse for UND if not for the play of Marcus Travis, who led UND with 17 points, 10 coming in the first half.
"We just didn't come out with the intensity and mental focus to execute at both ends of the floor," Travis said. "It was like that all weekend. But you have to credit Mankato. Blaine Joerger is a great shooter, and he's been shooting like that the last four games. Defensively, we should have been more in tune to him."
Joerger, who made 6 of 9 from beyond the arc, had UND's attention in the second half. A Sioux specialty defense held Joerger to nine points after the break. But Powell, 3 of 5 on 3-pointers, was the big player for Mankato down the stretch, hitting a handful of crucial baskets.
UND cut a 22-point deficit to 11 three times in the final six minutes. However, two 3-pointers by reserve Shawn Baudette and another by Powell held off the Sioux.
"They had answers for everything," Glas said.
The Sioux, who were 11 of 24 on 3-pointers, received 15 points from Tom Jacobson and 13 each from Berg and Hunter Reinke.
UND must regroup for upcoming road games at South Dakota State, Augustana and North Dakota State.
"We're 5-2, and it's not like any team will run away with this league," Glas said. "Mankato was just a great team tonight."
| UND (83) | |||
| Name | FG | FT | Points |
| Mustard | 3-9 | 0-3 | 6 |
| Travis | 6-9 | 2-3 | 17 |
| Behrens | 3-8 | 0-0 | 6 |
| Berg | 2-9 | 8-9 | 13 |
| Jacobson | 5-6 | 0-0 | 15 |
| Larson | 1-5 | 3-4 | 5 |
| Ristvedt | 1-2 | 0-0 | 3 |
| Reinke | 5-6 | 3-5 | 13 |
| Badding | 0-1 | 2-2 | 2 |
| Sheplee | 1-1 | 0-0 | 3 |
| Bernhardt | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Totals | 25-57 | 18-26 | 83 |
| MSU-Mankato (100) | |||
| Powell | 9-17 | 6-6 | 27 |
| Joerger | 11-14 | 4-4 | 32 |
| Johnson | 5-8 | 2-4 | 16 |
| Corley | 3-6 | 2-3 | 8 |
| Ellenburger | 3-6 | 0-0 | 6 |
| Knox | 2-4 | 1-2 | 5 |
| Baudette | 2-2 | 0-0 | 6 |
| Larson | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Siebrands | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Merseth | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 |
| Totals | 35-61 | 15-19 | 100 |