DULUTH, Minn. – Minot State University couldn't close out Minnesota Duluth in regulation and the Bulldogs made the Beavers pay for it.
 
The Beavers missed at the buzzer in regulation and then had two crucial turnovers down the stretch as UMD outlasted Minot State 83-80 in overtime in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball Saturday at Romano Gymnasium.
 
"We did not have a great game early, but we fought back and tied it. It was pretty even from there," said MSU head coach Matt Murken. "We got a stop and had the ball in the end of regulation, but didn't get a great shot there. Bottom line is we need to get off to a better start."
 
Minot State lead 65-60 with 2:37 to play on a free throw by Winston Williams (Jr., F, Plainfield, Ill.) only to see UMD score the game's next seven points to take a 67-65 lead with 1:21 on free throws by Pierre Newton.
 
MSU tied it at 67 as Dominique McDonald (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) and the Beavers held on defense to get a chance to win it in regulation. But, McDonald's jumper just before the buzzer bounced off to force MSU's fourth overtime game – all on the road – this season.
 
In overtime, UMD jumped out to an early lead and took a 79-73 lead on a Reece Zoelle basket in the paint late in the OT.
 
But MSU didn't go away, as Everett Robinson (Sr., G, Grand Junction, Colo.) and McDonald scored on layups to get it back to a two-point game. UMD couldn't put the Beavers away as they missed multiple free throws late in the overtime but MSU missed a good look from beyond the arc and had two possessions negated with costly turnovers.
 
Minot State had one final chance for a second overtime as Michael Pelo (Jr., G, Charleston, Utah) nailed a 3 from the top of the key with less than 20 seconds, and, after a pair of made free throws by UMD, Tyler Rudolph (Fr., F, Bismarck, N.D.) had a decent look from about 40-feet out at the buzzer, but the shot missed of the back iron.
 
"We didn't execute a couple times in overtime, but again, we clawed back, hit the 3 and had another look – I guess a 40 footer – but we did a good job in execution there and would have liked, obviously, to have that desperation one go," said Murken.
 
Three Bulldog players reached double figures paced by Brett Ervin's 22. Pierre Newton hit 11 free throws for his 19 points and added 10 rebounds in the win.
 
Pelo finished with five 3-pointers for the Beavers and a team-high 17 points. Williams scored 13 and Rudolph 11 as MSU's three non-starters combined for 41 points and 13 rebounds. UMD went to the free throw line 17 more times than MSU, outscoring the Beavers 18-7 on free throws.
 
Robinson ended the regular season with another double-double, scoring 11 and pulling down 12 rebounds. McDonald finished with 10 points, nine assists and two rebounds, while Nathan Mertens (So., G, Devils Lake, N.D.), Thomas Korf (Sr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) and Lamont Prosser (Sr., F, Fort Wayne, Ind.) all finished with six points. Mertens had five assists, while Korf and Prosser added six rebounds each. Minot State had a 44-31 advantage on the boards.
 
The Beavers, the NSIC North Division fifth seed, fell to 2-2 in overtime games this season and will face one of the team they battled in a double overtime game as MSU travels to Upper Iowa for the first round of the NSIC / Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament Wednesday.