Adam Papin/MDN Minot State’s Jaxon Gunville (24) shoots over a Minnesota State-Moorhead player during the two teams’ matchup on Dec. 16, 2023.

Things weren’t going very well for the Minot State men’s basketball team against the University of Minnesota-Duluth, who at the time were ranked 24th in the nation. The Beavers couldn’t make a shot, struggled to come away with any rebounds, and now trailed the Bulldogs 14-2 four minutes into the game.

“I didn’t have a magic play, or a magic wand to wave,” said Minot State men’s basketball head coach Matt Murken. “Usually, the first adjustment is just to do better at what you’re supposed to do anyway and get back to that.”

The Beavers were able to do clean up some of the early mistakes on their way to outscoring the Bulldogs 45-25 in the final fifteen minutes of the first half. Minot State went onto win the game 85-69 to improve to 11-3 overall and 6-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play.

For senior Jaxson Gunville, a Minot High grad, the team’s ability to rally for the win showcased how much the team has grown from previous seasons.

“If that happened last year, we might have laid down and just let them have that game,” said Gunville. “But this year, it really shows the fight that our team has, and we ended up winning that game. We’re fighting and clawing our way back into games, and I’d say the league has a lot more respect for us because of it. We’ve got a lot more respect for ourselves as well.”

Since that game on Jan. 6, Minot State has picked up two more wins at home, and they have been rewarded with the program’s first national ranking since moving to the NCAA Division II level during the 2012-2013 season.

Now, the No. 21 ranked Beavers, who have won nine of ten games, with the only loss coming to then No. 2 Minnesota State University-Moorhead, will have to defend their ranking against the top team in the nation tonight at the MSU Dome, in Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Like Minot State, MSU-Mankato is experiencing a resurgence in their program. Just a year ago, the Mavericks were 17-12. Fast forward to now and they are the last undefeated team in Division II.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” said Murken. “No one in the country has figured out a way to beat them yet, and it’s not like the other 16 teams haven’t tried and haven’t had a plan.”

The Mavericks have a number of seniors and graduate students on the roster, and they have used that experience and maturity to their advantage. They are also very prolific on offense, scoring 93.2 points per game, while allowing only 71.5.

Minot State will focus on slowing down their offense and winning one-on-one situations.

The Beavers will also have the luxury of playing on their own home court. With a number of Minot area players on the team, such as Gunville and Ben Bohl, a Bishop Ryan alum, the team hopes to generate a sizable crowd for what is arguably the biggest game in program history.

“Right now, we’re competing with anyone in the nation, and we’ve got local guys from different schools around the area that love playing for Minot State,” said Murken. “You’re gonna see some really good basketball.”

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.