GRAND FORKS, N.D.--For the second time in as many meetings with Minnesota State, the Fighting Sioux men’s basketball team could not find an answer for Atila Santos.

The senior center led all players with 25 points and 10 rebounds and led the Mavericks to a 75-56 North Central Conference win over UND tonight at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

MSU improves to 16-4 and 5-0 in league play, while the Sioux drop to 11-9 and 0-5 in the NCC.

Santos scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half, just three weeks after burning UND with an 18-point second-half performance in Mankato.

UND was able to keep the game within striking distance throughout the entire first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half. However, the Sioux managed just four field goals in the game’s final minutes, allowing the Mavericks to turn a 10-point lead into a 19-point win.

Santos went 9-for-15 from the field as the Mavericks shot just under 52 percent as a team.

Senior forward Emmanuel Little (Chicago, Ill.) enjoyed a standout individual performance in a losing cause, scoring 24 points to go with eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.

Senior guard Ervin Youmans (Hobbs, N.M.) scored 12 points and was the ony other Sioux player to hit double figures for the Sioux.

The Mavericks held a decided edge on the glass, out-rebounding the Sioux by a 35-22 count.

Santos was aided by 17 points from Jake Morrow and 10 from Preston Whitaker.

UND will return to action on Saturday against Augustana. Tip-off is at 2 p.m. at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

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