Box Score WAYNE, Neb. – Start calling them the road warriors.

Minot State University earned its third-straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road win with what has become its usual defensive tenacity.

The Beavers outscored Wayne State College 14-4 over the final four minutes to take a 64-61 NSIC men's basketball win Friday at Rice Auditorium.

“I told the guys that we need to play like I coach – ugly,” joked MISU head coach Matt Murken. “This was a big one for me. The guys were extra nervous all day. I wanted this one very bad, but we didn't start this season to beat Wayne State. We have a lot of work to do and need to come back and get another one tomorrow.”

Murken began his career at Wayne State as an assistant coach and earned a win over his former team in his first opportunity as MISU's head coach. It was the second straight win overall for the Beavers (6-9 NSIC, 5-6 NSIC) and the fifth win in their past eight games, all in conference play.

The Beavers hopes for a third-straight road win didn't look great as Amry Shelby put Wayne State (11-6, 5-6) up 57-50 with four minutes to play in the game.

But Minot State rushed back to take a 60-58 lead after a pair of 3-pointers from Thomas Korf (So., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) and back-to-back driving layups from E.J. Williams (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) with 1:49 to play. It was the first lead for Minot State since the 18:17 mark of the second half. From there, the Beavers defense locked down the Warriors.

“Man, did we really compete,” Murken said. “It was a great way to finish out a game. They really only scored when they went to the line. We competed hard and did what it took to get it done.”
Minot State's Dominique McDonald (Fr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) sank a pair of free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining and while it wasn't quite as dramatic as the Beavers blocked shot to win Tuesday's game over the University of Mary, MISU forced a missed shot to end the game.

“We made just enough free throws in the end and really played hard on the defensive end at the end of the game,” Murken added.

After a 54.5 percent shooting clip in the first half, Minot State held Wayne State to just 8 of 20 field goals in the second half. The Beavers ended with 13 offensive rebounds in the game and led the turnover battle 17-13. Minot State only allowed 42 Wayne State shots in the game.

The Wildcats were led in scoring by LaTroy Wright who finished with 15 points. Adol Aluong added 14 points and four rebounds and Derrell Williams finished with nine points and eight boards in the loss.

MISU had great balance as Williams (12), Korf (11) and Kelvin Fraser (Sr., G, Brooklyn, N.Y.) (11) all scored in double figures. McDonald added nine points and five assists, while Josh Johnson (Sr., F, Lufkin, Texas) scored eight points, pulled down five rebounds and added two steals and two assists in the win. Adam Randall (So., G, Steele, N.D.) paced the Beavers with eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end.

Minot State will look to make it four straight road wins with a 6 p.m. matchup with Augustana College Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D.