The sixth-ranked Mavericks clamped down on the Chargers again on Saturday in a 4-0 decision, completing a series sweep in Mankato, Minn.
UAH (6-23-1 overall, 6-15-1-1 WCHA) was held to only 12 shots on goal, half of which came in the third period when the game was pretty much decided.
The Chargers still hold eighth place in the WCHA standings by seven points over Ferris State, which was swept by Lake Superior.
But the Mavericks (23-6-1, 18-4-0-0) showed again why they are the best team in the conference. MSU now has a commanding 11-point advantage over second-place Bowling Green, which lost to Northern Michigan.
If the standings hold, the Chargers would be back in Mankato for the WCHA quarterfinals. Since MSU outscored UAH 10-1 in this series, the Chargers must find a way to compete with the Mavericks over the final weeks of the regular season.
Minnesota State scored early again in this one, this time at the 2:34 mark when Chris Van Os-Shaw flipped the puck just over Mark Sinclair, who could not cover the puck in the crease.
UAH would not get its first shot on goal until 11:19 in, when Jack Jeffers drove to the net and collided with MSU goaltender Dryden McKay. Jeffers received a penalty on the play.
That would be the only shot on goal for the Chargers in the first, one of only two shot attempts as just about the whole period was held in the UAH end.
Things got dicey in the second period. Just over two minutes in, Sinclair misplayed the puck behind the net, giving it to Jake Jaremko, who tucked it in the open net to make it 2-0.
Less than a minute later, Connor Wood put Connor Mackey into the boards hard. Wood got a five-minute major and a game misconduct.
UAH was able to hold on until Parker Tuomie put a high stick to the head of Sinclair, knocking his helmet off. Tuomie received a five-minute major for spearing and a game misconduct, giving the Chargers three minutes of power play to work with.
However, the Chargers only got one shot on goal during the advantage.
Minnesota State would extend its lead to 3-0 on its next power play following a Kurt Gosselin slashing penalty. Julian Napravnik scored high from the left point.
David French made it 4-0 Mavericks with 51 seconds left in the second. The third period was garbage time.
McKay got the shutout with 12 saves. Sinclair stopped 31 of 35 shots for UAH, which was shut out for the sixth time this season.
The Chargers are now 0-24-4 in their last 28 games against Minnesota State, dating back to 2002.
UAH has its final home series of the season next week. The Chargers host Northern Michigan on Friday (6:07 p.m.) and Saturday (3:37 p.m.).