Box Score MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston men's basketball team fell at the hands of No. 5 Minnesota State University, Mankato 93-55. The Mavericks used a second half where they out-scored the Golden Eagles 48-26 in the second half. The Golden Eagles remain winless in NSIC play as they fall to 3-19 (0-18 NSIC). Minnesota State rebounded Saturday after a loss to Bemidji State University Friday. The Mavericks improve to 19-3 (15-3 NSIC).

The Golden Eagles were led Saturday by 14 points from Ashton Harrell (Jr., G, Houston, Texas) on 4-of-6 shooting from the field. A.J. Barge (R-Fr., G, Carrollton, Ga.) came off the bench for a career-high 12 points for the quarterback turned hoopster. James Sparkman (R-Jr., F, Ypsilanti, Mich.) rounded out UMC's double-figure scorers with 10. The Golden Eagles shot 19-of-56 for 33.9 percent and were 4-of-20 for 20.0 percent from three.
Minnesota State out-rebounded UMC 47-22 on the night led by eight rebounds from Assem Marei.

The Mavericks were led by Marei's 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Zach Romashko added 16 points and Jarvis Williams tallied 11. Minnesota State shot 36-of-65 from the field and were 8-of-19 from three-point range for 42.1 percent.

The Golden Eagle men's basketball team held their own at the start of the second half as UMC was down only five (20-15) after Brandon Burns (Jr., F, Baton Rouge, La.) hit a three at the 10:23 mark. However, the Mavericks used a 5-0 run with a Romashko trey and a Jimmy Whitehead jumper to get out to a 25-15 lead with 9:16 left in the first half. The Golden Eagles would get the Maverick back down to eight (36-28) after a Harrell jumper at the 3:16 mark.

Minnesota State would close out the second half on a 9-1 run led by four points from Marei as the Mavericks went into the break with a 45-29 advantage over the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles shot 11-of-27 for 40.7 percent from the field and 2-of-10 for 20.0 percent from three in the opening period. Harrell led UMC with 10 points in the first half including connecting on 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Sparkman had six points in the first half. The Golden Eagles also had a strong first-half performance off the bench from Tomas Parker (So., F, Pequot Lakes, Minn.). Parker's sister Teresa was part of Minnesota State's 2008-09 Women's Basketball National Championship squad. Parker had six points in the first half.

Minnesota State won the rebounding battle 20-12 in the first half led by five boards from Marei. The Mavericks shot 17-of-32 from the field for 53.1 percent in the first half led by 14 points from Marei on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. Romashko added eight points and Williams had seven in the first half for Minnesota State.

The Mavericks came out of the break on fire as they opened the second period on a 10-0 run over the first four minutes led by four points from Williams. After a Sparkman lay-up, Minnesota State continued their rampant scoring with a 28-7 run to extend their lead out to 82-38 at 6:51 remaining following back-to-back treys from Romashko and Jaymeson Moten, along with a jumper from Whitehead.

Barge came off the bench to score five consecutive points to cut the Maverick lead to 82-43 with 6:16 left in the second half. Barge would finish with 12 points late in the game. The UMC football player has made strides since joining the team at semester break.
The Mavericks would come away with a 93-55 win over the Golden Eagles after their strong second half.
The Golden Eagles will trek to University of Mary and Minot State University next weekend.
 
Almir Krdzalic (Sr., G, Sioux Falls, S.D.) is inching toward the school record for career assists. Krdzalic needs just 30 assists and will have five guaranteed games remaining including the first round of the NSIC Tournament. Lee Roberts holds the record currently with 298 assists.
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
                                       
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