Mankato, Minn.--- Minnesota State senior center Atila Santos finished with a career-night in the Maverick’s 73-60 victory over Minnesota Duluth Thursday night in the Taylor Center.
The 6-10 center from Salvador, Brazil, finished with a career-highs in points (26) and rebounds (21). The 21 rebounds established a new school record, becoming the third player in school history to record a 20-20 game and the first since Nathan Marks scored 27 points and hauled in 20 rebounds in MSU’s 95-79 win over Kentucky Wesleyan, Nov. 17, 1990.
The 21 rebounds also marks the most by a player in the NCC this season. It marks his second consecutive game in which he established a career-high in rebounds.
“(Atila) Santos came to play,†said head coach Matt Margenthaler. “He carried us tonight. This was a big win for our program as we open the second half of the league season. Now we just have to take care of business Saturday at St. Cloud State.â€
The Mavericks led the game wire-to-wire as they opened with an early 12-0 lead as UMD missed its first 10 shots.
Minnesota Duluth would cut the Maverick lead to six at 23-17 with 7:41 remaining in the first half; however that would be as close as the Bulldogs would get. Minnesota State opened a 44-32 halftime advantage and never looked back.
Santos’ 26 points came on 9-of-15 shooting, including an 8-of-12 effort from the free throw line. He also finished with a pair of assists, a pair of blocks and a steal in the win.
Junior forward Mitch Gosson nearly missed a double-double as finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. Junior wingman Jake Morrow added 10 points, while junior guard Jadee Jones finished with 11.
The Mavericks shot 40.3 percent from the floor in the win, while limiting Minnesota Duluth to just 27.5 percent from the floor.
Minnesota State claimed the battle of the boards, 54-38 and held an 18-15 edge on the offensive glass. It marked the second time this season that MSU registered 50 or more rebounds in a game, and the 15th time that it has happened under Margenthaler.
UMD was led in scoring by Jordan Nuness who finished with 19 points.
The Mavericks (17-5, 6-1 NCC) travel to St. Cloud State Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. contest.
Notes: The 54 rebounds by Minnesota State is the third-highest single-game total under Margenthaler…The last time MSU had 54 rebounds in a game was Jan. 8, 2005 at Upper Iowa…Jon Taylor was the first Maverick to record a 20-20 game as he had 24 points and 20 rebounds in MSU’s win loss at St. Cloud State (2/22/85)…Santos’ double-double was his 14th of the season and the 16th of the year.
League scores from Thursday:
St. Cloud 73 at North Dakota: 65
South Dakota, Augustana, Nebraska-Omaha idle.
Updated NCC Standings (As of Thursday’s Games)
NCC Games Overall Games
Team Wins Losses Wins Losses
Minnesota State 6 1 17 5
South Dakota 4 1 19 1
Augustana 4 2 16 5
St. Cloud State 4 3 16 6
Nebraska-Omaha 3 3 17 4
Minnesota Duluth 1 6 8 14
North Dakota 1 6 12 10
