Box Score SPEARFISH, S.D. – As frustrating as this season has been for Minot State University, the Beavers were not going to let it end Friday.

The Beavers battled back from a double-digit deficit in the final 10 minutes of the game to upend South Dakota Mines 81-72 at the 2012 NCAA Independent Tournament at the Donald Young Center.

“I am just very proud of how this team played,” said MSU head coach Peter Stewart. “You don't know how many people have come up to me and commented on how good we have played and how hard we have played despite just three wins. I don't think any other team in the country has had to go through what these guys have had to go through. Our attitude has been great – we come out every night and play as hard as we can.”

MSU's Adam Randall (R-Fr., G, Steele, N.D.) was a one-man wrecking crew in the final five minutes. He scored nine of the Beavers final 16 points on various drives to the basket and a big offensive rebound, putback to secure the win.

Randall's push came after Thomas Korf (R-Fr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) gave MSU its first lead since early in the second half with two of four free throws following a four and a technical foul called on the Hardrockers. MSU trailed by 10 points with just over 10 minutes to play, but erased that in little over six minutes.

“We had to sit Josh (MSU leading scorer Josh Johnson, Jr., F, Lufkin, Texas) because of fouls with about 10 minutes to play and down by nine and we make the run with some of our other guys on the court,” Stewart said.

The Hardrockers (16-14 overall) also had a huge turnaround as MSU took a 38-29 lead into halftime. But Mines blitzed the Beavers early in the second half to take the 10-point lead.

The Beavers (4-24) made the second-half run behind solid play by Korf and Chris East (So., G, Toronto, Ontario). East used a quickness advantage to convert two big three-point plays on drives to the basket to help MSU erase the Hardrocker lead.

“I think our program took a big step forward,” said Stewart. “I took a time out during their run and I wasn't happy. We talked about what we needed to do to get back in the game and the guys responded. A month ago – three weeks ago – we probably don't do that.”

Mines was led by Tanner Friesen's 16 points, while Michael Dietz added 15. Calvin Thomas pitched in with 10 points for SDM.

The Beavers had three players scored 21 points apiece as Randall, East and Josh Johnson (Jr., F, Lufkin, Texas) all hit lucky 21. Korf was a fourth Beaver to score in double figures with 12 points. East finished with a game-high 13 rebounds, while Johnson added seven boards in the win for MSU.