EVANSVILLE, IND. — Five blocked shots, three steals, plus-7 in rebounding and 35.9% opponent’s shooting percentage.
If defense truly wins championships, Minnesota State is in a good spot with one game to play.
“Defensively, we’ve been locked in for the last month,” Minnesota State coach Matt Margenthaler said. “Tonight, we were the tougher team, but defense is the reason we’re still playing.”
Minnesota State’s defense was the difference Thursday in a 79-72 victory over West Texas A&M in the semifinals of the NCAA II men’s basketball tournament. The Mavericks will play in the national championship game for the first time in program history.
“This is a dream come true, not only for myself and the players, but the university,” Margenthaler said. “You can’t pay for the attention we’re getting for both the men’s and women’s team playing for a national championship.”
The Mavericks hit four 3-pointers in the first 8 minutes to lead 15-4, but West Texas A&M was able to claw back within 27-26 at the 6-minute mark.
Kyreese Willingham hit a 3-pointer to help the Mavericks rebuild the lead, and Malik Willingham scored in the final seconds for a 43-35 lead at halftime.
Malik Willingham had 15 points, and Justin Eagins added 11 points in the first half. The Mavericks were 7 of 20 from 3-point range but attempted only two free throws.
West Texas A&M, which had averaged 84.9 points, was only 2 of 12 on 3-pointers but was 13 of 15 on free throws.
“We know we can score,” Eagins said. “Our focus is always on getting stops.”
The Mavericks made four turnovers early in the second half, which allowed West Texas A&M to pull within 47-42 with 15 minutes to play. The game was tied at 49 when Eagins’ 3-pointer started a 17-4 run to create some margin. Brady Williams’ three-point play kept the margin at double digits, and the Mavericks held on despite making only 4 of 11 free throws in the final minute.
“This past month, we’ve really been locked in on defense,” forward Dylan Peeters said. “Our offense is always going to be there, but our defense was the difference down the stretch.
Malik Willingham had 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and Eagins made 5 3-pointers to finish with 18 points, 5 rebounds and eight assists to pace the Mavericks. Peeters had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Williams, playing 27 minutes because Kyreese Willingham was in foul trouble, had 14 points and five rebounds.
“There’s no question Brady was our star off the bench tonight,” Margenthaler said. “We don’t win without him.”
The Mavericks had 19 assists and forced West Texas A&M into 7 of 34 shooting from 3-point range.
“All of the transfers came here for one reason,” Peeters said. “Now we’re one game away from winning a championship. It’s crazy.”
Minnesota State (34-2) plays Nova Southeastern in the championship game Saturday. Nova Southeastern, the defending national champion, defeated Cal State-San Bernardino 91-77 in the semifinals Thursday.
“This means everything,” Eagins said. “This is what we set out to do in March, and now our dreams can become a reality. We put in the work to get here.”
Please follow Chad Courrier on X @ChadCourrier.