The Minot State men’s basketball team wasn’t able to climb out of sizable halftime deficits in either of its weekend contests, dropping a 72-60 decision to Southwest Minnesota State on Friday, Jan. 16, and its fourth straight conference game against Sioux Falls, 95-73, on Saturday, Jan. 17.

The Beavers outscored the Mustangs by 11 in the second half, but found themselves trailing by 23 entering halftime.

The Mustangs (11-5 overall, 9-2 NSIC) scored the first seven points of the game and built a double-digit lead with 11:42 remaining in the first half. That was the beginning of a 21-5 run to put SW Minnesota State ahead 37-14.

Micah Schlaak paced the Mustangs with 17 points. Mason Lund and Mekhi Shaw each had 12. The Mustangs shot 52.1 percent.

Darik Dissette finished with a game-high 18 points for Minot State while also grabbing eight rebounds. Deuce Benjamin added 17 and Isaiah Alexander also finished in double figures with 10. The Beavers (8-10, 5-7) struggled from distance, going 4-21 from behind the 3-point line.

The Beavers weren’t as far behind at the break against Sioux Falls on Saturday, but it still proved too much to overcome. The Beavers allowed 52 points in the opening half and trailed by 16. They were outscored by six points in the second half.

Much like on Friday, it didn’t take long for the opponent to build a double-digit lead. A layup by Kyle Ingwerson gave the Cougars a 20-9 lead 5:49 into the contest. Sioux Falls (10-8, 7-5) led by as many as 18 points in the first half and 26 for the game.

Alexander led the Beavers with 16 points and was one of four Minot State starters in double figures. Dissette (14), Trey Brandt (13) and Benjamin (13) also finished in double figures.

Brogan Madson finished with a game-high 22 points. Brandon Hrncir added 20. Ingwerson knocked down four 3s en route to a 16-point night.

Minot State returns home for a pair of conference games at the MSU Dome this weekend. The Beavers take on Augustana on Friday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m., and Wayne State on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 5:30 p.m.