Article

No. 4 Maverick Hoops Battle In-state Rivals This Weekend

Men at Duluth, home vs. St. Cloud State in critical weekend set.

by Dax Larson

Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Mens Sports

Free throws have been the key to success for the No. 4 Minnesota State men's basketball team this season. The Mavericks are getting to the line and converting on their attempts. MSU has made 372 free throws this season. Its opponents have only attempted 304. The best part is not just one or two guys getting to the line. It's the whole team. And the whole team can make free throws, even at the end of a close game.

This season, the Mavericks (20-1 overall, 6-0 NCC) are 72 of 87 from the free throw line in the final two minutes and overtime. That's 82.8 percent when the game is on the line. MSU's opponents are 20 of 26 - 75 percent - from the line in those situations. Making free throws has really been the difference between wins and loses for the Mavericks this year.

"We have to be able to step up and make those free throws at the end of games because that is what gets us separation," said Mavericks head coach Matt Margenthaler. "Free throw shooting is all about believing we can make it. Honestly, everyone in our starting five can shoot the basketball. We have guys that are confident when stepping up to the line in close games."

Senior Luke Anderson has improved his free throw percentage from 75.4 percent last season to 88.3 percent this season, which leads the team. His 352 career free throws gives him the all-time record for free throws made in a career. The Mavericks have four of five starters in the top 15 in the North Central Conference leaders for free throw percentage. Senior Tony Thomason is second on the team (86.7 percent) and third in the league in the category. Junior big man Atila Santos owns a 74.4 percent mark from the line this year, a remarkable feat for a center. MSU is 131 for 172 from the line in conference play this season. Its opponents have attempted just 79 while making 64.

"Free throws have been our thing all conference," Anderson said. "Not a lot of teams have a big man to step in and knock down free throws."

Free throws will be important when the Mavericks face Minnesota-Duluth tonight in Duluth, Minn. and against St. Cloud State Saturday at the Taylor Center. The Bulldogs (9-12 overall, 0-6 NCC) and the Mavericks battled in a double-overtime game on Jan. 4 at the Taylor Center. The Mavericks pulled out a win in the conference-opener, 86-81. The Bulldogs will be looking for some revenge and their first conference win. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, the Bulldogs are a dangerous team.

"Duluth is a scary game," Margenthaler said. "We need to prepare ourselves and use our athleticism. We need to rebound and create turnovers to play at our pace."

Saturday the Mavericks face-off against the Huskies (16-5 overall, 5-1 NCC) at the Taylor Center. On Jan. 11 the Mavericks stole a victory from the Huskies in St. Cloud, 83-73. MSU is on a 16-game home winning streak. The last time MSU lost at home was a year ago when the Huskies beat the Mavericks on Feb. 4, 67-53. Junior David Dreas for the Huskies is averaging 19 points and 5.5 assists in conference games this season.

"They felt they didn't give us their best shot when we went up there," Margenthaler said. "They have three good guards and we will have to match their intensity."

The Mavericks game against the Huskies on Saturday is set for 4 p.m.

Dax Larson is a Reporter staff writer