Box Score SPEARFISH, S.D. – Black Hills State's lead turned out to be too much to overcome.

Minot State University cut a 27-point BHSU lead to eight in the second half but couldn't get closer as BHSU avenged an earlier loss to MSU with an 83-68 win in nonconference NCAA Division II men's basketball Friday at the Young Center.

The Beavers (3-18 overall) were on their way to an embarrassing loss early on as BHSU raced out to a 26-10 lead. MSU began the comeback late in the first half, cutting the 27-point first-half bulge to 19 at halftime.

“We can't get behind like that,” said MSU head coach Peter Stewart. “I thought we executed better in the second half and we competed better in the second half. We had eight guys who wanted to play down the stretch.”

MSU's biggest push, however, came midway through the second half and was powered by junior Josh Johnson (F, Lukfin, Texas). Johnson scored a game-high 29 points on 10 for 11 free throw shooting and nine field goals.

“We had a play where Josh isn't supposed to be the guy who (fouls) and he did and fouled out. That slowed us some, he was very good tonight,” Stewart said. “But we had some good looks at the basket down the stretch and didn't execute.”

The Beavers got it to 72-64 on a jam by Chris East (So., G, Toronto, Ontario) with 3:28 remaining, but the Yellow Jackets countered with a pair of free throws by Tommy Earl on the next possession. MSU never got it below the eight after as BHSU made the majority of its free throws down the stretch.

“We got a lot better tonight. It's disappointing to lose the game, but we got better,” said Stewart.

BHSU (12-9) was led by Earl and Brady Bisgaard who scored 19 points each in the win. They were joined in double figures by Brody Brisk (12) and Rob Johnson (11). Cameron Anderson pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go along with five points for the Yellow Jackets.

Along with Josh Johnson, Thomas Korf (R-Fr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) scored in double figures, netting 12 points. Adam Randall (R-Fr., G, Steele, N.D.) added nine points for MSU.

MSU will look to rebound against South Dakota Mines Saturday with tipoff slated for 6 p.m. (MT).