Winona, Minn. – Minnesota State sank key free throws in the waning seconds and used a 24-11 advantage from the line to eliminate Metro State from the men’s NCAA Division II tournament with a 70-68 victory Sunday in the North Central Regional semifinals.
Metro State’s Terrell Burgess hit a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining that pulled the Roadrunners within 69-68. But after a Benas Veikalas foul, Minnesota State’s Luke Anderson hit one of two free throws.
Metro State (28-4) went up 40-39 in the opening minutes of the second half after Marquise Carrington hit a 3-pointer. But it would be the Roadrunners’ only lead. Minnesota State led by as many as eight points and there were seven ties.
Carrington’s 26 points and four assists, including 17 points in the first half, led Metro State.
Jake Morrow scored a team-high 18 points for the Mavericks and Atila Santos had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
No. 2 seed Minnesota State will face No. 1 Winona State on Tuesday in the regional final. Winona State on Sunday defeated Nebraska-Kearney 81-70.
METRO STATE (28-4)
Carrington 9-18 6-9 26, Veikalas 4-5 2-2 11, Burgess 4-9 0-0 11, Bahl 4-8 0-0 9, Coulibaly 1-2 3-4 5, Wagstaff 2-4 0-0 4, Price 1-1 0-0 2, Smith 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 25-51 11-15 68.
MINNESOTA STATE (28-4)
Morrow 6-13 3-4 18, Santos 4-7 9-10 17, Kyles 2-5 8-10 12, Thomason 4-8 1-2 11, Anderson 2-11 3-6 7, Clark 1-1 0-0 3, Wynder 1-1 0-0 2, Gosson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-47 24-32 70.
Halftime – Tied 35-35. 3-point goals – Metro St. 7-17 (Burgess 3-5, Carrington 2-7, Bahl 1-4, Veikalas 1-1), Minnesota St. 6-18 (Morrow 3-7, Thomason 2-3, Clark 1-1, Anderson 0-6, Kyles 0-1). Rebounds – Metro St. 26 (Coulibaly 9), Minnesota St. 33 (Santos 13). Assists – Metro St. 10 (Carrington 4), Minnesota St. 15 (Thomason 7). Total fouls – Metro State 25, Minnesota State 17. A – 2,954.
