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The bigger Beaver

Minot State outlasts Bemidji State 79-71 Friday

Minot State's Luis Ricci Maia (11) dribbles the ball during a men's college basketball game Friday at the MSU Dome in Minot.

For a moment Friday night, it might have been possible the Minot State men’s basketball team thought it would experience a feeling it knew all too well.

The Beavers have seen far too many games they led in the second half slip away from them this season and were in danger of just that happening again.

Minot State allowed a 10-point second-half lead to disappear, but wouldn’t suffer the same disappointing fate Friday as the Beavers made key free throws and shots down the stretch to defeat their Beaver-nicknamed counterparts Bemidji State 79-71 at the MSU Dome.

“Maybe that thought crept in a little bit, but I thought this night was different,” MSU junior forward Tyler Rudolph said. “I felt like we were in control the whole night and could make some big plays at the end and that’s what we did.”

With the game tied at 61 with 3:23 remaining, MSU coach Matt Murken called a play out of a timeout to create an open 3-point opportunity for Minot State guard Nathaniel Moore, who buried an open look for a 64-61 lead and the eventual go-ahead basket.

“When we play a 3-minute game, I expect we’re going to win that at home every time,” Murken said. “Moore made a huge play after not playing the best first half. We really talked about the mental side of the game and I thought we were much better in that regard tonight.”

From there, other Beavers made key plays in the final 2 minutes and 30 seconds, including a 3-pointer from Trevor Rothstein with MSU clinging to a one-point lead with 2:23 remaining. Nathan Mertens iced the game for MSU with 57.1 seconds left after knocking down two free throws.

“Free throw shooting helps you win games at the end pretty much every time,” Mertens said. “Mostly our victory came down to getting stops on the defensive end otherwise we can’t stretch it out like we did.”

Rudolph led Minot State with 20 points and 10 rebounds, or as Murken might call it, just another day at the office.

“He’s pretty consistent,” Murken said. “One thing about him that’s hard to guard is he’s a willing passer. Teams can’t focus all that attention on him if he’s a willing passer like that.”

Mertens chipped in 15 for Minot State, while Stevan Jovanovic contributed 14 points and six boards.

Minot State shot 46.7 percent from the floor and held Bemidji State to 45.9 percent shooting and 4-of-19 from beyond the arc. Ben Best led Bemidji State with 20 points on a 10 of 17 shooting effort.

MSU (9-10, 5-8 NSIC) is back in action at 6 p.m. today against Minnesota Crookston at the MSU Dome.

Garrick Hodge covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @Garrick_Hodge.

Garrick Hodge/MDN Minot State's Luis Ricci Maia (11) dribbles the ball during a men's college basketball game Friday at the MSU Dome in Minot.

Minot State's Nathan Mertens draws contact while putting up a shot during a men's college basketball game Friday at the MSU Dome in Minot.  Photos courtesy of Sean Arbaut/ Minot State athletics

 

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