MINOT, N.D. – There aren't too many games where you lead 24-2 and the rest of the game is a grind.

But for that very reason, some do.

“It's a little stupid, but those big start like that can come back haunt you,” said Minot State University men's basketball head coach Peter Stewart. “Leads like that don't happen too often.”

The Beavers nearly gave back all of the 22-point lead, but held off a first-half charge, made a run of their own and finished off Valley City State 65-52 in Dakota Athletic Conference play Sunday at the MSU Dome.

“One thing happens, another happens and then the media timeout took a little out of us and we let up,” Stewart added. “Now it's a game.

“But I will take the great start every night.”

The Beavers (10-13 overall, 4-5 DAC) were cruising as Kal Bay (Sr., G, Chandler, Ariz.) knocked down a 3-pointer with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half for the 24-2 lead. By halftime, ti was just a 29-24 lead.

But MSU responded in the second half. The Beavers pushed the lead back to double digits after VCSU got to within 31-29 on a 3-pointer by Calvin Kraft. MSU scored 12 of the games next 14 to get it to 43-31 on a 3-pointer by Nathaniel Packineau (Sr., G, Parshall, N.D.).

Packineau and Kraft were an interesting matchup all night. Kraft outscored Packineau 19-5, but it was Packineau's defense down the stretch that made the difference on one of the top scorers in the conference.

“Nate and the other guys that guarded Kraft did a great job. He got 19, but he had to put 3,000 miles on to get that,” Stewart said. “One of the 3s Kraft hit, (Packineau) looked to the bench with a look of 'gall darnit.' He did a heck of a job and took a lot of pride in his defense.”

MSU was never able to shake the Vikings (7-16, 1-8), but because of holding VCSU to just eight field goals in each half, never seemed to be in much danger. MSU forced 17 turnovers and held the Vikings to just 3 of 14 shooting on 3s.

“Fifty-two points in a conference game says it all,” Stewart said of his defense. “We better be able to manufacture more than 52 to win games. You have to maximize runs. They got a heck of a run in the first half, but I don't think they got a run in the second.”

Stewart was especially pleased with the play of reserves Shawn Storseth (Jr., F, Burlington, N.D.) and Gary Heitkamp (So., F, Minot, N.D.), who combined for two points and one rebound, but gave the Beavers a huge spark on defense.

“Shawn and Gary had their best minutes of the year in what their role is on this basketball team,” Stewart said. “They worked their butts off and I don't think there was a possession where they didn't have a hand on the ball.”

Along with Kraft, Mark Klingberg reached double figures scoring with 11 points. Klingberg also had 11 rebounds.

MSU had four players in double figures, led by Bojan Janjic's (Sr., G, Kikinda, Serbia) 17 points. Kelvin Fraser (Jr., F, Brooklyn, N.Y.) had 14 points and seven rebounds, Bay added 12 points and four rebounds and Jason West (Sr., G, Lompoc, Calif.) scored 11 and added eight assists.

MSU heads out on the road for its final DAC road swing as they travel to Mayville State Friday and Dakota State Saturday.