(Maverick Athletes photos)
MARCH 5, 2024 – Nationally ranked at #2, the 29-2 Minnesota State Mavericks men’s basketball claimed its first conference title in a decade after toppling #9 University of Minnesota Duluth 97-77 in NSIC championship afternoon play at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
NSIC Player of the Year, Malik Willingham, 6-3 senior, was selected NSIC Tournament MVP after averaging 23.0 points and 4.3 rebounds a game while shooting 43.9 percent from the field in three games. The Waseca, Minn., standout is the fourth Maverick in team history to claim conference tournament MVP honors. Maverick Coach Matt Margenthaler received the NSIC Coach of the Year award.
This marks the fourth conference tournament championship win in team history. MSU previously won the North Central Conference Tournament in 2006 and the NSIC Tournament Championships in 2013 and 2014.
Later that evening in Sioux Falls, the #20 Maverick women’s basketball squad claimed the program’s first-ever conference championship in an 89-74 win over the University of Mary. Senior guard Joey Batt of New Ulm, Minn., was named the NSIC Tournament MVP.
The Mavericks became the fourth program to win both men and women NSIC tournament championships in the same season. The last team to do it was Wayne State College in 2011.
Minnesota State’s men will learn their NCAA Tournament fate during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 10:00 p.m. The selection show will be streamed on NCAA.com.
