Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Minot State University played Saturday's game against William Jewell College much like the Beavers have all season.

MSU had a solid start, allowed the Cardinals to build a lead and while cutting that lead to six in the second half, couldn't hit enough shots down the stretch to complete the comeback.

William Jewell outscored Minot state 38-28 in the first half and held off the Beavers for a 70-60 win in nonconference NCAA Division II men's basketball at the D2 Vegas Showdown Saturday at the Centennial Hills Center.

The Beavers (3-22 overall) were in jeopardy of getting blown out as the Cardinals took a 15-point lead in the first three minutes of the second half. But the Beavers kept making comebacks in the second half before falling short.

William Jewell (9-16) jumped out to the early lead behind 16 first-half field goals and 48.5 percent shooting. MSU held the Cardinals to just 10-of-26 shooting in the second half, but didn't crack 35 percent shooting on its own end.

Mark Mason hit for a game-high 21 points to lead the Cardinals. Nick Larson finished with an outstanding game, scoring 16 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. Cyril Bilong added 14 points in the win.

Josh Johnson (Jr., F, Lufkin, Texas) scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds for the Beavers. Matt Yale (R-Fr., G, Berthold, N.D.) scored nine points and pulled down six rebounding. Chris East (So., G, Toronto, Ontario), Thomas Korf (R-Fr., G, St. Cloud, Minn.) and Adam Randall (R-Fr., G, Steele, N.D.) all scored eight points. East also had 10 rebounds for the Beavers.

MSU moves on to play McKendree University Sunday in the finale of the tournament beginning at 8 p.m. (PT).