Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State senior guard Kyle Beisch (3) surveys the floor Tuesday evening against Valley City State inside the MSU Dome. The Beavers won 81-64.

Minot State senior shooting guard Kyle Beisch and junior point guard Max Cody put the Beavers’ offense on their backs Tuesday evening with 53 combined points in an 81-64 home win over Valley City State.

The MSU backcourt duo each posted a career-high in points. Beisch went 10-for-20 from the floor with five 3-points for a game-high 28 points. Cody was 10-for-18 for 25 points, plus six rebounds and five assists.

The previous best for Beisch was 25 points, and 23 points for Cody.

The Beavers (6-0) used a strong second half to distance themselves from the Vikings (0-7). MSU only led by six points, 33-27, at the break. VCSU’s last lead was at 27-26.

Minot State shot 52.6% as a team and won the rebound battle (36-20). Stephane Manzi cleaned up the boards with a game-high eight rebounds. Kody Dwyer had seven rebounds to go with 8 points.

VCSU shot 42.6% with nine made 3-pointers. Kevin Schramm and Connor Entzi each had a team-high 13 points for the Vikings.

MSU outscored VCSU 48-37 in the second half.

Next up, MSU hosts rival U-Mary in its conference opener Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The two teams split last season with the home team winning each affair.

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