ABERDEEN, S.D. – Minot State University went back and forth with Northern State until a small dry spell offensively midway through the second half spelled doom for MSU as the Wolves pulled away from a 83-72 win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball Saturday at Wachs Arena.
 
The Beavers (5-3 overall, 1-2 NSIC) held a 45-44 lead on a 3-pointer by Dominique McDonald (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) five minutes into the second half and McDonald tied the game at 55 with just 10:19 to play.
 
But Northern State (8-1, 2-1) went on a 13-2 run capped by pair of free throws by Tydan Storrusten for a 68-57 in just four minutes of play.
 
"At this point in the season, it is all about improvement and getting better," said MSU head coach Matt Murken. "It's such a long season, so you have to keep getting better, keep improving. I thought tonight we did a better job of playing to our strengths."
 
Minot State did not go away as they cut the lead to just four at 72-68 on a jumper by Winston Williams (Jr., F, Plainfield, Ill.) with less than three minutes to go, but the Beavers couldn't get closer at Storrusten hit two more free throws and Mitch White pushed the Wolves lead to 77-68 with a 3-pointer to close out MSU.
 
The Beavers were much better Saturday after falling at No. 19 Minnesota State University Moorhead Friday by 30. MSU led much of the first half and for the first five minutes of the second half. Minot State led by as many as nine, going up 37-28 on a layup by Thomas Korf (Sr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) late in the first half.
 
"We were much better tonight overall. It's frustrating to drop two games on the road, but we played better basketball," Murken said. "I thought Dom was really good and Thomas we good for us."
 
Northern State held off the Beavers with solid free throw shooting, knocking down 9 of 12 in the final five minutes and 23 of 28 free throws in the game.
 
Storrusten led all scorers with 22 points, hitting 8 of 8 free throws. He also finished with three rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win. DJ Pollard scored 18 points and Seth Bachand paced the Wolves with seven rebounds to go along with seven points.
 
Minot State was led by McDonald's 16 points. He hit two 3-pointers and finished with three assists and three rebounds. Lamont Prosser (Sr., F, Fort Wayne, Ind.) scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds for MSU. Korf hit three 3-pointers for 13 points and Williams added 12 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Beavers will make their conference home debut Friday and Saturday, taking on the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State at the MSU Dome. 
 
"It's taken a little out of us being on the road so much and traveling so much. Such is life in college basketball," said Murken "But it will be good to be home."