MSU Mankato claims two titles

The Division II national championships were decided in men's and women's basketball last Friday and Saturday.

 

Waseca and the surrounding area had a lot to do with it.

 

Waseca High School graduates Malik and Kyreese Willingham, as they have been all season, were key components as Minnesota State-Mankato defeated Nova Southwestern 88-85 for the men's championship Saturday afternoon at Evansville, Ind.

 

The previous night, Joey Batt - granddaughter of Al Batt of rural Hartland - helped the Mavericks to the women's crown in an 89-73 victory over Texas Woman's University 89-73 at St. Joseph, Mo.

 

It was the first national championship for the Minnesota State men's team, which rallied past the defending national champions to win a nail-biter. The women's squad won handily. It was the second time in history that one school claimed the Division II men's and women's basketball championship.

 

The men's team started slow, falling behind 12-2 after three minutes and 21-12 after 10. The Mavericks trailed 40-38 at halftime.

 

Minnesota State went on a 10-0 run to start the second half and was up 71-58 with 10 minutes to play, but Nova Southeastern, the highest scoring team in Division II, engineered a 13-0 run and took the lead 76-75 with 4:46 remaining.

 

It was tied 85-85 when the Mavericks got the ball with 27 seconds to go. After working the ball around, Malik Willingham, a senior, found his brother Kyreese, a junior, and he drilled a three-pointer with .8 seconds on the clock to lift Minnesota State to victory.

 

Kyreese and Malik Willingham finished with 12 points each. Kyreese added five rebounds and three steals, while Malik finished with five assists and five steals.

 

"How about the last 24 hours for Minnesota State University?" Mavericks coach Matt Margenthaler said. "It's a basketball school. It's a basketball town. It's a lot of fun. I'm proud of our women, proud of our men, and we're going to enjoy this one."

 

"I don't even know what to say right now," Kyreese Willingham said. "It's just an unbelievable feeling. All the credit to Malik for finding me."

 

Malik Willingham was named Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player. Kyreese also qualified for the all-tournament team.

 

The team finished the season with a record of 35-2. NSU finished 32-3.

 

The men's title game was a sharp contrast to the women's championship, which the Mavericks led from start to finish.

 

Batt, a senior from New Ulm who was named to the all-tournament team, finished with 10 points, six assists and five steals.

 

“This was so amazing,” said Batt. “It was one of the best experiences, but I don’t think it’s hit me yet and it might not hit me for a few days. The growth that this team showed this season is insane. These guys are like my second family, and I’ll always be a Maverick.”

 

“This has just been incredible,” said coach Emilee Thiesse. “When you go back to Joey’s freshman year, and to watch this program grow with Joey at the helm has been amazing. It’s not just this team; it’s a lot of other teams that have helped us build this culture. But this team is extra special.”

 

The Mavericks, who started the season 2-4 while Batt was sidelined with an injury, finished 32-5, finishing with an 11-game winning streak.

 

Winona State is on the only other men's team from Minnesota to reach the Division II national title game. Winona State reached the national championship three consecutive seasons – 2006, 2007 and 2008 – and won the title in '06 and '08.

 

The last school to win the Division II title in men's and women's basketball in the same season was Central Missouri State in 1984.

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