MINOT, N.D. – After the Minot State University women's basketball team fell in the first game of the evening to the University of Mary, the MSU men's basketball team made sure the Beavers didn't come away from Bismarck, N.D. empty handed, taking their first NSIC game 66-61 against U-Mary.

"That was a solid team win on the road," MSU head coach Matt Murken said. "I thought our team defense was outstanding. Our offense was up and down throughout the game but we had some different players step up and make big plays."

The Beavers got off to a hot start as they held an early 10-2 lead at the 14:07 mark of the first half. Everett Robinson (Sr., G, Grand Junction, Colo.) scored six points in the Beavers early run on his way to a team-high 19 points. Robinson also ended the game with a team-high seven rebounds.

"Everett was fantastic," Murken said. "He plays the game the way it should be played, with tons of passion and energy."

Despite shooting 37.9 percent from the field, the Beavers managed to take a 28-23 lead with them into the locker room at halftime, while holding the Marauders to 35.7 percent shooting and allowing just one three-pointer on nine attempts. Five three-pointers on 41.7 percent shooting from behind the arc proved to be a key in the first half for the Beavers.

Minot State shot the ball significantly better in the second half and found itself leading by as much as 10 at the 13:02 mark of the second half, but the Marauders didn't go quietly. Just under four minutes later, U-Mary trailed by just one as they pushed the scored to 47-46.

The Beavers' 61.9 percent shooting in the second half proved to be too much for the Marauders, though. In a game where Minot State never trailed, they pushed their lead back up to eight as Robinson split a pair of free throws with 1:11 left on the clock and all but sealed the deal.

Lamont Prosser (Sr., F, Fort Wayne, Ind.) was the only other Beaver to score in double figures as he ended the game with 11 points and collected five rebounds. Winston Williams (Jr., F, Plainfield, Ill.) added nine points for the Beavers while Michael Pelo (Jr., G, Charleston, Utah) ended with seven.

Dominique McDonald (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) scored just one point in the game but recorded six assists and turned the ball over just once.

The win moves the Beavers to 1-0 in the Northern Sun and 5-1 overall. U-Mary falls to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

The Beavers will look to improve to 2-0 in the NSIC next Friday, Dec. 5 when they travel to MSU-Moorhead for an 8 p.m. tip.