Box Score WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Minot State University men's basketball is in a self-described tough place right now.

The Beavers have been hampered by poor shooting much of the season and frustration is setting in.

“We are doing some good things, but if you can't score it makes everything else look a lot worse,” said MSU head coach Peter Stewart. “The ball is just not going in and it's a scary problem right now because the more your dwell on it, the worse it becomes.”

That was the general tone following the Beavers 70-52 loss against the University of Northern British Columbia in the consolation round of the 2011 Coca Cola Wesmen Classic Thursday at the Duckworth Centre.

The Beavers (1-14 overall) shot just 26.7 percent in the first half, hitting just eight baskets while struggling to a 43-22 halftime deficit. According to Stewart, his team is working hard, it just isn't showing up on the score sheet.

“We are getting good looks for the most part,” he said. “The ball just isn't going in. We're frustrated.”

The Beavers problems on offense early on were punctuated by a nine-point second quarter. The drought actually started late in the first quarter as MSU trailed just 15-13 on a pair of free throws by Josh Johnson (Jr., F, Lufkin, Texas) with 1:54 to play in the quarter.

NBC pushed it to 22-13 at the end of the quarter and exploded for 21-9 advantage in the second quarter. In all, the Timberwolves went on a 28-9 run over the final 11:54 in the first half.

The Beavers were better in the second half, hitting 12 of 28 shots from the floor, but the margin was too great to overcome.

“We have to try to stay the course and as much as we hate losing, we are going to have to battle through it,” Stewart said.

The Timberwolves had four players in double figures, led by 15 points by Joel Rybachuk. Sam Raphael added 13 points, while Jose Araujo and Kevan Madsen added 10 apiece. Dennis Stark led NBC with eight rebounds to go along with nine points.

Johnson was the lone Beaver in double figures with 21 points and finished off the double-double with 15 rebounds. Johnson also had three blocked shots. Jonas Pollard (Sr., G, Mesa, Ariz.) and Yonas Behre (Jr., G, Toronto, Ontario) each scored seven points for the Beavers.

MSU plays Keyano College for seventh place Friday at 3 p.m.