SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls' Mack Johnson hit a 3-pointer with .9 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Cougars to a 66-65 win over Minot State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball Friday at the Stewart Center.

Johnson hit the eventual game-winner off a tipped offensive rebound off a scramble, capping an 8-1 USF run over the final 1:29 of overtime. Johnson sent the game into overtime with a layup with 14 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

"Our guys fought their tails off," said MSU head coach Matt Murken. "We have to make better plays down the stretch. We outrebounded the best rebounding team in the conference, but gave up three huge ones late.

"You can't give a kid that two shots at the game winner like that. (Johnson's) too good."

Minot State (4-5 overall, 0-4 NSIC) had a good look at its own game-winner but a jumper at the buzzer by Tyler Rudolph (So., F, Bismarck, N.D.) came up just short.

The Beavers took a 64-58 lead with 1:29 to play on a 3-pointer by Dominique McDonald (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) on a feed from Rudolph. But the Beavers gave up three offensive rebounds, turned the ball over once and missed a free throw all during the Cougars' (7-2, 3-1) comeback.

After a slow start, MSU went up by as many as 13 in the second half as the Beavers held USF without a field goal for nearly eight minutes to start the second half. The Beavers took a 39-27 lead on three-point play by Winston Williams (Sr., F, Plainfield, Ill.) with just over 12 minutes to play in the second half.

"We really defended and battled back to take the lead. Give USF credit, they battled as well in their own building," Murken said. "I really believe we are coming together and getting better. We have to have tremendous enthusiasm and work either and we did that. We have to put this behind us. You would have been proud to watch the Beavers tonight."

MSU nearly had the win in regulation as they took a 55-53 lead with 1:35 to play in regulation, but again had trouble finishing off the Cougars. The Beavers had three turnovers in the final 1:35, including a final one that allowed Johnson to tie the game at 55.

Jordan Stotts led all scorers with 17 points and added seven rebounds for USF. Johnson finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win.

Rudolph paced MSU with 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Chris Davis (Sr., G, Colorado Springs, Colo.) added 14 points and four rebounds and Williams joined them in double figures with 11 points and pulled down six boards. McDonald and Nathan Mertens (Jr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) scored nine each as McDonald added eight rebounds and three assists in the loss for the Beavers.

Minot State moves on to Marshall, Minn., Saturday for a 7 p.m. matchup with Southwest Minnesota State in NSIC play.

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.