Box Score

Postgame Press Conference

MANKATO, Minn. – Metro State hung with host No. 8 Minnesota State for the entire game, but the top-seeded Mavericks pulled away in the final minutes for a 69-65 victory in the semifinals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament in Mankato, Minn. The Roadrunners' season ended at 22-8, while MSU improved to 26-4.

Metro State led for much of the first half, but never by more than five points. MSU took its first lead of the game at 27-25 with 2:15 left in the half, but the teams went into the break tied at 27-27. The Roadrunners held the Mavericks to just 31.3 percent shooting in the first half. However, Metro State shot just 30.0 percent.

The second half continued to be back-and-forth until MSU scored six straight points to build a 61-54 lead with 4:14 to play.

A 3-pointer by #A.J. Flournoy# cut the lead to just two points at 67-65 with 59 seconds left. The Mavericks went scoreless on their next possession despite getting an offensive rebound, thanks to a pair of blocked shots by Shakir Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey H.S.).

But Reggie Evans (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview H.S.) missed two free throws with 14 seconds left, squandering a chance for the Roadrunners to tie the game. MSU's Jefferson Mason converted both of his free throw attempts with 12 seconds left to seal the game.

Evans finished with a team-high 22 points on 10-of-18 shooting and pulled down six rebounds. Flournoy finished with 12 points, hitting 3-of-6 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the line. Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) had seven points and a team-high four assists. Glenn Miller (Sacramento, Calif./Foothill H.S.), Jonathan Morse (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.), Quaran Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central H.S.) and Shakir Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey H.S.) all scored six points each. Shakir Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey H.S.) blocked a career-high seven shots. Miller led the team with eight rebounds.

For the game, Metro State shot just 38.1 percent and was outrebounded 47-36. Both teams took care of the ball as the Roadrunners committed just six turnovers and MSU had seven.

Mason led the Mavericks with 25 points.

Metro State will say goodbye to Flournoy and Shakir Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey H.S.) as the only seniors on this year's team. Johnson finished his career sixth in blocked shots (125) and first in blocked shots per game (2.0) in school history. Flournoy was fifth in minutes per game (31.4) and 13th in assists per game (2.9).