MINOT, N.D. -- Senior Tyler Rudolph scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds, but 21st-ranked Northern State used a 16-4 second-half run to pull away from the Beavers on its way to an 86-60 victory over Minot State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Friday in the Minot State Dome.

The Beavers, who suffered their first loss of the season, trailed by 56-49 after a pair of free throws by David Akibo with 8:26 to play in the game.

The Wolves countered with a three-point play by Bo Fries, a layup by Logan Doyle and a three-pointer from Ian Smith to stretch the lead to 64-49 at the 6:50 mark of the second period.

Luis Ricci Maia ended the run with a jumper, but Smith drained another three-pointer to push the margin to 67-51 with 6:07 remaining in the game.

Nathaniel Moore converted two free throws for the Beavers, but DJ Pollard answered with two free throws and Darin Peterka completed a three-point play to extend the lead to 72-53 at the 5:18 mark of the second.

Moore finished with 18 points for the Beavers, while Ricci Maia finished with nine points and eight assists.

Northern State, which improved to 7-1 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC, was led by Smith who scored a game-high 26 points. He also collected seven rebounds and handed out four assists. Pollard also reached double figures for the Wolves as he scored 11 points.

Northern State shot 53.7 percent from the floor, including 52.2 percent from the three-point line, and limited Minot State to just 36.5 percent shooting. The Beavers, who dropped to 7-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, turned the ball over only nine times but was outrebounded 39-24.

Northern State held a 27-17 lead at the 3:53 mark of the first half before the Beavers closed with a run.

Brandon Green drained a three-pointer and Ricci Maia followed with a layup to bring the Beavers to within 27-22 at the 2:39 mark of the first half. Smith countered with a jumper for the Wolves, but Rudolph connected on a three-pointer and added two free throws to bring Minot State to within 29-27 at the 1:29 mark of the first.

Northern State took a 33-31 lead into the intermission after Trevor Rothstein hit a pair of free throws with 37 seconds to play in the opening half.

Minot State rallied to tie the game twice early in the second half, but the Wolves took the lead for good at 37-35 on a pair of free throws by Carter Evans with 17:47 to play.

Minot State returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 2) as it hosts Minnesota State Moorhead at 6 p.m. in the Minot State Dome