Box Score DENVER, Colo. – Metro State used a 9-0 spurt early in the second half and outscored Minot State University 40-25 in the second half to earn a 75-54 win over the Beavers in nonconference NCAA Division II men's basketball Friday.

It was the season opener for both teams and the first game for Minot State under new head coach Matt Murken.

“We definitely played hard enough to win and competed for about 25 minutes,” Murken said. “We did a lot of things well and we need to do a lot of things better. That's basically the good and bad of it.”

The Beavers (0-1 overall) closed a 35-29 halftime deficit to just two points, 37-35, on a jumper by Adam Randall (So., G, Steele, N.D.) with 17:13 remaining in the second half.

But the Roadrunners, ranked No. 5 in the country to start the season, pushed it to 46-35 with a Demetrius Miller hoop and to 67-46 on a Tyler Cooper hoop with just over four minutes to play in the game.

“You knew a team like that was going to punch you and we didn't react to it as well as we needed to. They are a good team and did some things to spread us out,” Murken said. “We have a quick turnaround for another top ranked team and will have to get better.”

Minot State overcame a slow start to push Metro State much of the contest. Minot State trailed 18-5 early in the game, but closed it to 35-29 at halftime with a pair of free throws by E.J. Williams (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) right before halftime. Chris East (Jr., G, Toronto, Ontario) scored six of his team-high 10 points during the run to cut it to six at halftime.

Metro State shot a solid 24 for 46 from the field, but struggled to just 56 percent shooting from the free throw line. The Roadrunners held Minot State to 31 percent from the field, limiting MISU to 17 total field goals. Mitch McCarron had an efficient game-high 21 points, going 8 for 11 from the floor and added seven rebounds to pace Metro State.

East also paced the Beavers on the boards as he pulled down nine rebounds to go along with his 10 points. Josh Johnson (Sr., F, Lufkin, Texas) scored eight points and added three rebounds, while Isiah Gandy (Jr., G, West Palm Beach, Fla.), Anthony Enriquez (Sr., G, Tacoma, Wash.) and Williams all scored seven points for Minot State.

It doesn't get much easier in game 2 as Minot State travels to Golden, Colo., to take on No. 13 ranked Colorado School of Mines beginning at 8 p.m.