MANKATO, Minn. -- Minnesota State shot over 60 percent the second half and pulled away from the University of Nebraska at Omaha for a 94-82 North Central Conference victory Saturday at Bresnan Arena.

Tyler Albers led UNO with 19 points and Andrew Bridger added 16 as the No. 24 Mavericks fell to 19-5 on the season and 5-4 in the NCC. First-place MSU improved to 20-5 and 9-1. Jake Morrow led five MSU players in double figures with 20 points and Atila Santos added 16.

Minnesota State emerged with a 38-37 lead after a first half that featured six ties and seven lead changes. Tyler Albers scored 14 of his points, hitting five of seven shots. UNO trailed by as many as six and led by the same before MSU put on a 9-2 run to end the half.

MSU took a quick five-point lead early in the second half before UNO whittled it away with layups by Tyler Albers and Bridger and then, with 14:29 left, took the lead on Justin Petersen's layup, 57-56. MSU's Jadee Jones and UNO's Michael Jenkins traded field goals, but the lead, 59-58, was UNO's final one as Jones added a jumper and two free shots to start a 15-5 run. That built MSU's margin up to 73-64 with 8:01 left.

UNO responded with a pair of three pointers by Denny Johnston and Mitch Albers, trimming the lead to four with 6:23 left, 75-71.

But Johnston then picked up his fourth foul and Jenkins fouled out when he got his fourth, protested and was given a technical foul. MSU seized the momentum and scored the next nine points to take control for good.

MSU shot 60.6 percent the second half and 51.5 for the game to UNO's 46.6 percent and MSU outrebounded UNO, 41-31, with Santos pulling down 10.

Johnston and Mitch Albers each scored 11 for UNO and Justin Petersen led the team with 10 rebounds.

The Mavericks are off until visiting North Dakota next Saturday.