Box Score MINOT, N.D. – The University of Sioux Falls outscored Minot State University 8-0 in the first two minutes of the second half to open up an otherwise tight game as the Cougars pulled away from MISU in an 83-72 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball game Friday at the Minot State Dome.

The Beavers trailed just 35-31 (8-15 overall, 4-15 NSIC) heading into the break, but USF (13-10, 10-9) hit two free throws after MISU was whistled for a technical foul going into halftime and then back-to-back 3-pointers to take a double-digit lead.

"We had a stretch in to end the first half where we were up by about six and we had a few wasted possessions," said MISU head coach Matt Murken. "But, I thought we had some good looks that we just didn't finish as well. We missed some shots that we usually make while they converted on their opportunities and that results in about a 10 point swing headed into halftime which hurt our momentum.

"Right now we just aren't tough enough to realize that isn't the end of the game and that if we continue to get those shots, eventually they are going to start falling."

The back-to-back 3s by Charles Ward and Mahlon Jones two of nine hit by the Cougars who were an otherwise average 7-of-18 from beyond the arc without the two. With them, USF shot 45 percent on 3s and 50 percent – 26 for 52 – from the floor overall, outhitting MISU 50-43 percent.

After the quick 8-0 run, Minot State tried to play catchup, cutting the lead to single digits a couple of time down the stretch after USF pushed it to as many as 18 points in the second half.

The best opportunity for a Minot State comeback came after a Dominique McDonald (So., G, Raleigh, N.C.) 3-pointer with 57 seconds to play to cut it to nine. Sioux Falls missed a free throw on the ensuing play, but Jordan Stotts pulled down an offensive rebound and his putback pushed it back to 11.

The Beavers led by as many as six points in the first half, getting to 19-13 on a Thomas Korf (Jr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) 3-pointer at the 7:27 mark of the first half. But USF pushed to the four-point halftime lead.

Ward paced all players with 25 points, hitting seven field goals and eight free throws along the way. Derek Brown came off the bench to score 12 points and Jones scored 11 points, added six rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win.

"He had a nice game for them, he scored inside, he scored outside and he got to the foul line," Murken said of Ward. "Their shooters knocked down enough 3s for them to give them effective nights. It was just a solid team effort from their end but we need to play more consistently and get mentally tough enough to play well defensively for 40 minutes."

McDonald led the Beavers with 17 points and three rebounds. Chris East (Sr., F, Toronto, Ontario) scored 14 points and added nine rebounds. Korf hit three 3-pointers for 13 points, E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) scored 12 points and dished out seven assists and Samuel Johnson (Sr., F, Las Vegas, Nev.) finished with nine points and seven boards for the Beavers.

Minot State will look to regroup in the regular season home finale Saturday as the Beavers play host to Southwest Minnesota State starting at 6 p.m.