MINOT, N.D. -- Senior
Tyler Rudolph led five players in double figures with 19 points and Minot State opened the season 6-0 for the first time in 42 years with a 96-68 victory over Yellowstone Christian on Wednesday in the Minot State Dome.
Minot State entered the game tied with the 2013-14 team as the only two Beaver teams to start a season 5-0 in the last 42 years. The Beavers posted a season-high 96 points to stand alone at 6-0.
Rudolph was 8-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free throw line as he reached double figures in scoring for the 22nd consecutive game. Nathaniel Moore added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Beavers, while Max Cody (11), Dorian Aluyi (11) and Kody Dwyer (10) also reached double figures in scoring.
Aluyi posted a double-double as he also had 10 rebounds, while David Akibo had 12 rebounds, seven points and three assists.
Trevor Rothstein came off the bench to contribute 10 rebounds, five points and three assists.
Yellowstone Christian, which dropped to 8-4 on the season, was led by Joseph Hooker who had 22 points and 12 rebounds. Fabricio Valdivia added 21 points for the Centurions.
Minot State shot 47.7 percent from the floor, while limiting Yellowstone Christian to just 36.8 percent shooting.
Minot State used a 13-0 run midway through the first half to pull away from the Centurions. The Beavers held a 23-17 lead with 10:01 to play in the first before Rudolph jump started the run with a jumper to up the lead to 25-17.
Three consecutive layups by Moore, Rudolph and Rothstein pushed the Minot State lead to 31-17 at the 6:39 mark of the opening period.
Russ Davis followed with a basket inside and Aluyi added a free throw before Dwyer capped the run with another basket inside as the Beavers took a 36-17 lead at the 4:48 mark of the opening half.
Minot State took a 49-27 lead into the intermission and stretched the lead to as much as 31 points in the second half.
Minot State will open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday (Nov. 25) when it hosts Mary at 4 p.m. in the Minot State Dome.
