BISMARCK, N.D. – With 10 lead changes and seven ties the Minot State University men's basketball rivalry game against Mary was one the 1,178 in attendance won't soon forget.
 
The Marauders won the match 81-72 ending on a 6-point run as the Beavers attempted to climb back in the game after being down 75-72 with 56 seconds left.
 
After scoring just 28 each to go into halftime tied, Minot State and Mary came out to score 97 points in the second half. The teams went from shooting a combined 37 percent in the first half to 53 in the second to provide an entertaining match up.
 
The Marauders were able to spread the floor well scoring 32 points in the paint while making nine three-pointers compared to the Beavers 24 and seven.
 
"It was a hard fought conference road game," said head coach Matt Murken. "You have to be tough defensively to win on the road and we had too many breakdowns to steal that game."
 
Luis Ricci Maia led the Beavers with 20 points while Tyler Rudolph scored 15 of his own. Rudolph also led the team with 17 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
 
The 17 rebounds for Rudolph is not only a career high, but also an MSU Division II record. It was Rudolph's second double-double of the year, but still, more is expected.
 
"Tyler plays extremely hard," Murken said. "He didn't have his best game and still had 15, 17 and four. He will be the first to tell you he can play better."
 
Minot State will play Northern State and Minnesota State University Moorhead on the road next week on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
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.