MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University's defense played well enough to win, but the Beavers couldn't finish off Minnesota Duluth.

The Beavers and Bulldogs were tied at 47-all, but a steal and three-point play by Justin Byrd gave UMD a three-point cushion it did not relinquish the rest of the way in a 60-55 grind-it-out Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball game Friday at the MSU Dome.

"They (UMD) are a good defensive team," said MSU head coach Matt Murken. "When you work the ball around and execute and get some open looks, at the end of the day it comes down to you've got to make enough of those shots to win. I thought we had our opportunities and we didn't finish enough of them to get the victory."

The Beavers (9-10 overall, 4-9 NSIC) had chances to get the game back to even or take a lead late, but couldn't convert. MSU shot just 8 for 29 in the second half and just 37 percent for the game.

"Certainly holding them to 60 is plenty good," Murken said. "We've got to be a little bit sharper offensively and score at a higher percentage. Stay confident. It's not always an easy thing to say when you have a bad shooting night but a good shot is a good shot so keep shooting the good ones."

The game featured three lead changes and two ties and wasn't separated by more than seven points. It was tied 30-all at halftime.

Three UMD (10-9, 7-6) players reached double figures with Reece Zoelle scored 15 and Brett Ervin 14 to lead the way. Ervin added 12 rebounds in the win.

Michael Pelo (Sr., G, Charleston, Utah) and Everett Robinson (Sr., G, Grand Junction, Colo.) scored 14 apiece for MSU. Lamont Prosser had 11 points. Robinson notched another double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with 14 points.

"He's very active. He's always very active," Murken said of Robinson. "He always plays hard. He had another solid game tonight. I don't think he feels like he played the best game and I think he can probably play a little better. One thing that's never in question is that he's going to go out there and play extremely hard."

The Beavers continue a four-game home stand with St. Cloud State Saturday starting at 6 p.m. at the Dome.