MAYVILLE, ND – The 24^th ranked Mayville State men started the North Star Athletic Association conference tournament out in the right direction, as the Comets downed the Dakota State Trojans 74-59 in conference tournament play Tuesday at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville.
The Comets led for a majority of the game.
"It was a great defensive effort tonight," Comets head coach Darren Tighe said. "I'm very happy with how tough we played on both ends of the floor."
Anthony Costello gave Dakota State an early three-point lead just five minutes into the contest. Josh McGreal increased the lead to five points, but the Comets mounted a comeback. A 10-0 run by Mayville State gave the Comets back the lead at 22-16 with 9:38 to go in the half.
Rene Melendez eventually grew the Comet lead to 11 points, as he hit a jumper with 6:53 to go in the half. The Comets finished with a 13-4 run to close the first half in the final six-and-a-half minutes.
Max Cooper and Latrelle Franklin opened the Comet scoring in the second half, as Franklin gave Mayville State an 18-point lead with 17:00 to go in the contest.
Mayville State never looked back, as Franklin and Cooper continued to hit critical two-pointers throughout the rest of the second half.
Mayville State had three players with double-figures—Cooper finished with 21 points, Franklin added in 14 and Melendez added 11 points.
The Comets also saw Iker Cruz pull down 14 rebounds on the night, adding to his nine points in the contest.
Mayville State will take on the Viterbo V-Hawks on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Watertown Civic Arena in Watertown, S.D.