MANKATO, Minn. --- The Western Oregon football team fell at undefeated and fourth-ranked Minnesota State 45-14 on Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium in a non-conference contest.

The Wolves (3-4 overall) trailed 17-0 at the half to the Mavericks (7-0) before gaining some momentum early in the third quarter when Tyler Copeland blocked a MSU punt and Nino Gama scooped it up for WOU and ran it back 15 yards for the touchdown to cut the defiict to 17-7.

But the Mavericks answered with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter before an Austin Bacher 29-yard touchdown run for the Wolves made it 31-14 MSU with 12:01 left in the fourth.

However, MSU answered with two more touchdowns to make the final 45-14.

Bacher paced the ground game, rushing for 93 yards and a score on 12 carries. Dominique Loggins rushed for an additional 58 yards for the Wolves. Gannon Winker finished finished 13-for-30 for 150 yards and two interceptions. London Smalley had a team-high four catches for 66 yards. 

Xavier Owens led WOU with seven tackles to go along with a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. Elijah King added six tackles.

Overall, the Wolves were outgained 410-296.

WOU returns home next Saturday for homecoming as the Wolves host Midwestern State at 1:05 p.m.