MINOT, N.D. – Winning can cure a lot of ills.

Minot State University had been mired in a five-game losing streak, but had a little fun in a 96-72 win over Brandon (Manitoba) University in nonconference NAIA men's basketball Sunday at the MSU Dome.

“The kids play to win – as much as we try to tell them not to,” said MSU head coach Peter Stewart. “We don't win a crown for tonight, but it was a step in the right direction.”

While the win was nice, Stewart was even more please with how the Beavers won the game. MSU had a 46-35 rebounding edge, played solid defense and had a renewed energy.

“We were plus 11 on the boards and took some charges,” Stewart said. “We attempted at least three (charges) and got to some loose balls.”

After leading by double digits since early in the game, the Bobcats cut the Beavers lead to just nine at 45-36 at halftime. But the Beavers took off after the break. MSU went on an 18-2 run to start the half, hitting 9 of their first 12 shots of the half. Minot pushed the lead to 73-48 with 11:44 to play in the second.

“We finally got our film system in place and it was pretty tell-tale,” Stewart said. “We showed the guys some film today and they didn't think it was them out there. The kids are very visual learners and the video system makes such a big difference. We showed some things to them, some again and some maybe five or six times. They got the point.”

The Beavers (3-6 overall, 0-2 DAC) opened with a 25-13 lead, holding Brandon to 33 percent shooting and forcing seven early turnovers. MSU's Anthony Enriquez (Jr., G, Tacoma, Wash.) led the way early with nine of MSU's first 25 points and MSU got an overall boost from the play of senior guard Kal Bay (Chandler, Ariz.).

“Kal got us off to a great start,” said Stewart. “There were a lot of good things that happened out there.”

MSU's post players gave the Beavers a boost inside as Gary Heitkamp (So., F, Minot, N.D.), Shawn Storseth (Jr., F, Burlington, N.D.), Milos Jerotijevic (So., C, Belgrade, Serbia) and Kelvin Fraser (Jr., F, Brooklyn, N.Y.) combined for 23 points and 16 rebounds, led by Storseth's 12 points, two rebounds and Heitkamp's nine rebound, seven point nights.

“Shawn had a good second half, 12 and 2 in just a half and Gary did a good job for us,” Stewart said. “And I thought Jason West (Sr., G, Lompoc, Calif.) was good defensively in the second half. If he gets into stance, you're not brining the ball down the court.”

O'Brian Wallace and James Elias paced Brandon (5-7 overall) with 16 points apiece, while Elias pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

Enriquez led five MSU players in double figures with 19. Bojan Janjic (Sr., G, Kikinda, Serbia) added 16 points and seven rebounds, Nathaniel Packineau (Sr., G, Parshall, N.D.) hit for 14 and Bay added 11 points and six rebounds for the Beavers.

MSU plays host to Montana Tech Friday at 7 p.m. in their only game this week.