WINONA, Minn. – Minot State University found itself in another tussle Saturday night in Winona.
 
And, for the second straight night, the Beavers couldn't lock down a key road win.
 
Winona State pulled away with a 19-12 run over the final six minutes to preserve a 78-69 win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball Saturday at McCown Gymnasium.
 
Minot State (9-9 overall, 4-8 NSIC) has lost four straight NSIC games, but has been close in every game including a double overtime loss Friday night at Upper Iowa and a one-point loss to Northern State.
 
"We have to find a way to turn some of these in to victories," said MSU head coach Matt Murken. "But we are right there. We never got into a groove offensively and they did a good job of guarding us, they are a good defensive team."
 
Minot State's biggest lead was just four early on, but the game featured six lead changes and was tied three times as neither team made any significant runs until Winona State's late spurt.
 
The Beavers finished shooting just 38 percent from the field and struggled to just 35.3 percent in the second half. Despite that, MSU was right in the mix with just over six minutes to play as a Michael Pelo (Jr., G, Charleston, Utah) jumper made it 59-57.
 
From there, however, MSU went cold and Winona State (9-9, 4-8) put the game away mainly behind Riley Bambenek who scored nine of his game-high 24 points in the final four minutes.
 
"We didn't move the ball around like we needed to and when we did, we didn't knock them down," Murken said.
 
Along with Bambenek, Conrad Masberg and Isaiah Gray both reached double figures as Masberg hit for 16 and Gray scored 12 points and added five assists. Kyle Bauman scored eight and pulled down eight rebounds in the win.
 
Everett Robinson (Sr., G, Grand Junction, Colo.) continued solid overall play as he finished with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, both team highs. Thomas Korf (Sr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) added 13 points, hitting three 3-pointers and Pelo added three more triples on his way to 11 points and five rebounds.
 
Freshman Tyler Rudolph (F, Bismarck, N.D., making his first start in place of the injured Lamont Prosser (Sr., F, Fort Wayne, Ind.) continued to improve, just missing out on his first career double-double finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds and a blocked shot.
 
Minot State returns home this weekend for the first of four straight at the MSU Dome, taking on Minnesota Duluth Friday.