LAKELAND, Fla. — It proved to be a defensive contest Sunday evening as #1 Minnesota State fell to #9 North Georgia 57-49 to wrap up the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic.
With the loss, MSU drops to 0-2 on the season. With the win, UNG improves to 2-0 on the season.
Scoring was at a premium early on as the Nighthawks held a 9-5 lead with 11:34 to go in the first half as both teams shot a combined 6-of-24 from the field by the second media timeout. A little over three minutes later the Mavericks tied the score at 13-13 courtesy of two three pointers from senior Kyreese Willingham and a layup from junior David Harmon.
The lead would exchange hands two times in the final eight minutes of the first half as the Nighthawks carried a 23-20 lead into halftime.
Willingham led all scorers in the first half with nine points, while senior Harrison Braudis notched five points, including a layup in the closing seconds of the half. As a team, MSU shot 29.6% from the field in the first half.
AJ White and Colin Turner led the Nighthawks in the first half with six points each. As a team, UNG shot 34.5% from the field in the opening stanza.
The Nighthawks opened the second half on a 17-7 run to take a 13-point lead at 40-27 lead with 11:54 to go. The Mavericks then responded with a 15-4 run of their own to get back within a basket at 44-42 with 6:00 remaining in the second half. Harmon notched seven of MSU’s 15 points, while senior Tyrell Stuttley tallied four points.
North Georgia answered MSU’s 15-4 run with seven straight points of its own to go back up by 51-42 with 3:34 remaining. A three pointer from Braudis got the Mavericks back within six points of the Nighthawks at 55-49 but the Mavericks would get no closer as North Georgia came away with the 57-49 win.
Harmon led the Mavericks with 14 points, while Braudis tallied 13 points. Willingham finished with 13 points also, while freshman Will Opsahl hauled in six rebounds.
As a team, MSU shot 34.5% from the field. The Mavericks hauled in 34 rebounds and passed out nine assists as well.
White led North Georgia with 22 points, while Turner and Cayden Charles each tallied 10 points. Zack Hawkinson hauled in 13 rebounds also.
As a team, UNG shot 37.5% from the field. The Nighthawks hauled in 43 rebounds as well.
Minnesota State returns to action on Friday as it travels to Kansas City, Mo. to take on Southern Arkansas on the opening day of the Central Region Challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.
To view the postgam press conference click HERE
