MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University head coach Matt Murken's halftime speech worked.

The Beavers outscored Mayville State 49-35 in the second half to pull away from the Comets for a 77-59 win in nonconference NCAA Division II men's basketball Monday at the Minot State Dome.

"In the second, we were much more attention to detail and had a workmanlike attitude," Murken said. "We got the shots we wanted and made them take the shots we wanted. We were pretty good for a stretch."

Minot State (3-1 overall) led by just four, 28-24, at halftime after building an early 10-point lead. While neither team shot better than 35 percent in the first half, Mayville State stayed in the game with four 3-pointers. The Comets only hit nine first-half field goals, but scored 12 of their 24 points from beyond the arc.

"In the first half, we were just kind of out there. We took whatever was available instead of working for something better," Murken said. "We were just out there, running up and down the court, playing basketball. We weren't executing a game plan."

But it was all Minot State in the second half.

The Beavers outscored Mayville 20-7 in the first 5:16 of the second behind increased energy overall and a strong start by Nathan Mertens (Jr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) and Winston Williams (Sr., F, Plainfield, Ill.). Mertens scored eight quick points in the second half and finished with 14 and Williams, who led all scorers with 22 points, had 13 of them after the break.

"Nate was much more focused and active in the second," said Murken. "Really, the five guys we had on the court to start the second were better. We had much more of an attacking attitude and were a more focused club. Winston posted up really hard and guys were getting good ball reversals to get him the ball closer to the rim. He can be pretty good when we do that."

Minot shot 51.9 in the second half, hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers after going 0 for7 in the first half. MSU built the lead to as many as 29 with just over four minutes to play before a late run by Mayville tightened up the final score.

"We did a good job of protecting the lane and made them take contested shots," Murken said of his defense. "As a coach, you are always wanting a little more focus level. That's what's held us back this year of being a really good team is we have been good in stretches, but have to be better longer."

Mayville was led by Antar Johnson's 19 points as Johnson knocked down 5 of 11 3-pointers. The Comets took 25 3s and hit eight, making just 15 two-point baskets. Chuck Robinson finished with eight points and six rebounds in the loss.

Along with Williams and Mertens, Tyler Rudolph (So., F, Bismarck, N.D.) chipped in with his third double-double in four games, scoring 10 and pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. Dominique McDonald (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) finished with nine points, six rebounds and six assists. The Beavers were a solid 25 for 30 from the free throw line, making 17 of 20 in the second half.

The Beavers will be back on the court Tuesday to face the University of Jamestown beginning at 7 p.m. at the Dome.

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.