Box Score MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University weathered a second-half Bemidji State storm.

Bemidji State erased an early 12-point Minot State lead and took its own lead midway through the second half.

But behind steady play by Minot's E.J. Williams (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) and timely 3-pointers by Dominique McDonald (Fr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) and Adam Randall (So., G, Steele, N.D.), MISU pulled away down the stretch to earn an 86-76 win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate men's basketball Friday at the Minot State Dome.

“I thought at times we moved the pretty well, and we when we do that and make aggressive plays we can be tough to guard,” said MISU head coach Matt Murken. “We came out in the second half and played a little flat and beat us on the glass pretty bad. To our guys, credit they didn't fold when Bemidji made their run and we kept battling on both ends of the floor.”

The MISU Beavers (9-14 overall, 8-11 NSIC) didn't panic after a hard-charging BSU team stormed out of the second-half locker room to take a pair of one-point leads. The first came on a 3-pointer by Dermaine Crockrell with 7:47 to play in the game and the second was two minutes later on a free throw by Crockrell to complete a three-point play.

But Minot State outscored BSU 22-11 from that point on. Minot State quickly retook the lead on a three-point play by Williams and then opened a 70-67 lead on the first of two clutch 3-pointers by McDonald.

“We knew if we were patient enough and have good ball movement, we are going to get enough shots to win,” Murken said. “They actually defended us pretty well for 25 to 30 seconds of those possessions and we hit some jump shots late. We didn't panic when the clock was running down and that's what we want to see. It was a great team win for us tonight.”

Williams and McDonald combined to score 21 of the Beavers final 22 points to secure the win. Williams finished with a game-high 25 points on 12 of 15 free throw shooting and 6 of 8 shooting from the field. He also added four rebounds and three assists.

Crockrell led BSU (12-11, 10-9) with 24 points and added four assists in the loss. Lance Rongstad scored 16, Mason Walters 14 and Zach Noreen 13 for the Minnesota Beavers.

Minot State had great balance as Anthony Enriquez (Sr., G, Tacoma, Wash.) finished with 16 points and Randall 11. Thomas Korf (So., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) and Josh Johnson (Sr., F, Lufkin, Texas) both scored nine and McDonald added eight points and five assists.

Minot State will look to make it two in a row to end the home portion of its NSIC schedule as the Beavers play host to Minnesota Crookston Saturday at 6 p.m.