BEMIDJI, Minn. – Three-pointers played a crucial role in the second half of Minot State University's loss at Bemidji State Friday.

The BSU Beavers countered nearly every Minot State run with a 3-pointer and hit 6 of 10 in the second half to win 84-76 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball at the BSU Gymnasium.

The loss snapped Minot State's modest two-game winning streak and dropped MSU (8-5 overall, 3-4 NSIC) to a game below .500 in conference play. BSU, who hit 13 of 31 3-pointers in the game, improved to 7-4 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC.

"We dug ourselves a hole by not being active enough on either end of the court," said MSU head coach Matt Murken. "By the time we cut loose and really competed we ran out of time. Our focus and effort was much better in the second half, but that won't get you road victories."

The final BSU dagger came off the hands of Cody Risseeuw with just under two minutes to play. After Minot State's Thomas Korf (Sr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) cut a once 17-point BSU lead to just 75-71 with a 3 of his own, Bemidji State's Risseeuw pushed the lead back to seven just 30 seconds later.

Minot State allowed BSU to run out to leads in both the first and second halves only to cut it back to a close game. But MSU couldn't overcome the 3s and struggled down the stretch from the free-throw line. MSU went 19 for 28 from the line overall and was better in the second, 13 for 18, but missed five from the stripe in the final five minutes of the game.

MSU held BSU to just 35.3 percent shooting in the first half and just 5 of 18 on 3-pointers, but still trailed by seven at the break. Both teams significantly increased their shooting in the second half, but BSU hit 21 field goals to Minot's 16 and outscored MSU 21-15 in the second from beyond the arc.

Korf, Dominique McDonald (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) and Nathan Mertens (So., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) kept the Beavers in the game as the trio combined to score 32 of the MSU's 50 second-half points. Korf netted 12 of his 19 points in the second. MSU hit just nine field goals in the first half, but knocked down 16 in the second half.

Four BSU players reached double figures with Brock Lutes leading the way with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Kaylor Zimmerman added 15, DJ Anderson scored 14 and Shane White chipped in with 11 for BSU. Risseeuw scored eight points and pulled down seven rebounds in the win.

Three other MSU players scored in double figures to join Korf. McDonald ended with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Mertens and Lamont Prosser (Sr., F, Fort Wayne, Ind.) added 10 each. Prosser pulled down six rebounds, while Korf and Everett Robinson (Sr., G, Grand Junction, Colo.) finished with five rebounds each.

MSU is back in NSIC action Saturday on the road at Minnesota Crookston starting at 6 p.m.