Lovasoa Andriatsarafara

Men’s Basketball: Minot State adds 7-footer Lovasoa Andriatsarafara

The Minot State men’s basketball team will have some height in the interior this season with the addition of redshirt sophomore Lovasoa Andriatsarafara, a 7-footer from Toamasina, Madagascar, the team announced on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Andriatsarafara averaged 7.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in three games with the Madagascar National Team during the FIBA AfroBasket Tournament. He posted a double-double against Cameroon with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

“I’m really excited to have Lova join the basketball family at Minot State,” MSU coach Randall Herbst said in a press release. “He’s long, he can run, moves well, can step out and shoot it from the perimeter. His best basketball is yet to come. His 7-foot presence should benefit the team in many ways.”

Andriatsarafara is no stranger to some of the faces on the MSU bench, as he played for current assistant coach Ryle Hernandez when he began his collegiate career at Seward County Community College (Kan.). Andriatsarafara averaged 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds during his freshmen campaign and totaled 51 blocks, 24 assists and 16 steals.

“For me, the challenge is to keep improving my overall game and to be as impactful for the team as I can be, in every way possible,” Andriatsarafara said in a press release. “And I know overcoming those challenges is what will make this journey meaningful, both for me and for the team’s success.”

Prior to college, he was a member of both the Redemption Christian Academy and the U19 Madagascar World Cup team in 2023. With the national team, he averaged 11 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, shooting 50 percent in seven games played.

“On the court, I want to bring a strong defensive presence and an energetic impact that can lift the team in key moments,” Andriatsarafara said. “Off the court, I believe my work ethic and energy can set a standard and help create a culture where everyone pushes each other to get better.”

Andriatsarafara will get his first taste of Division II basketball when the Beavers open their season in Durant, Okla., against Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Friday, Nov. 14, as part of the NSIC/GAC Crossover.

Men’s Golf: Beavers finish 8th in first tournament of season

The Minot State men’s golf team shot a final-round 307 and dropped down a couple spots in the standings from the opening day to place eighth with a team score of 608 at the Don Niskanen Classic at Bemidji Town & Country Club on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The Beavers were in sixth place after Monday’s round, but were jumped by both U-Mary and Manitoba on Tuesday.

Bemidji State claimed the tournament crown with a two-day total of 559, recording the best round each day. BSU shot a 282 on the final day to win the event by 20 strokes over Concordia-St. Paul. Minnesota State (581), Augustana (584) and Bemidji State’s ‘B’ squad (590) rounded out the top five.

BSU’s Logan Schoepp carded a 1-under 70 to coast to the individual title after firing a 7-under on Monday to build a sizable advantage. Schoepp carded three birdies and two bogeys during his final round, finishing the event with an eagle, eight birdies and two bogeys. Teammates Teagan Laplante and Julius Arenkiel tied for second place along with C-SP’s Chase Camilli at 2-under par. Arenkiel had the second-lowest round of the day with a 3-under 68, birdieing seven holes on the day.

Five golfers finished under par and three others shot even par.

Max Karnik finished tied for 14th to lead Minot State. After an even-par 71 on Monday, Karnik shot 5-over on Tuesday, carding two birdies, five bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-4 17th. All five Minot State golfers had lower rounds on Monday.

Minot State tees off in the Minnesota State/Concordia-St. Paul Fall Brawl Tournament at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, Wisc., beginning Monday, Sept. 15.

Women’s Golf: Beavers drop to 9th on final day of tournament

The Minot State women’s golf team shot 24 strokes higher in its final round of the Tracy Lane Memorial at Bemidji Town & Country Club and finished at the bottom of the standings in the nine-team event on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The Beavers shot a two-day total of 748, finishing their second round with a score of 385.

Concordia-St. Paul overtook Minnesota-Crookston to win the tournament with a two-day total of 666. The Golden Bears entered the final day trailing Minnesota-Crookston by a stroke, but shot five strokes better than Golden Eagles for the title. Minnesota-Crookston settled for second with a total of 670, one stroke ahead of U-Mary. Southwest Minnesota State (691) and Jamestown (692) rounded out the top five.

Six of the nine teams carded lower scores on Tuesday compared to the opening round on Monday, with Minnesota-Crookston shooting identical scores both days.

C-SP’s Addi Wood and U-Mary’s Annie Neva both finished with two-day totals of 161, but Wood won the tiebreaker to claim the individual title. Wood recorded three birdies and was able to overcome a 4-over hole on the par-4 sixth when she carded an 8. Neva had one birdie on her round.

Zoe Banack cracked the top 20 for Minot State, tying for 20th with three others with a final score of 177. Banack birdied the par-5 ninth and finished the tournament with a pair of birdies. Abigail Goettle placed 25th.

The Beavers return to action in the Minnesota State/Concordia-St. Paul Fall Brawl Tournament at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, Wisc., beginning Monday, Sept. 15.