MINOT, N.D. -- David Akibo and Luis Ricci Maia each posted a double-double and Tyler Rudolph scored a game-high 28 points as Minot State defeated Minnesota State Moorhead 78-65 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game on Saturday in the Minot State Dome.

Akibo finished with a career-high 21 points and he tied his career high with 12 rebounds, while Ricci Maia had a career-best 12 assists to go along with 14 points to lead the Beavers.

Minot State, which improved to 8-1 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC, used a big run to open the second half and then held off a late charge from the Dragons to post the victory.

The Beavers held a 39-33 lead at the intermission, but opened the second period with a 19-5 run to take a 20-point lead with 14:58 to play in the game.

Akibo and Rudolph scored inside to open the run and Ricci Maia and Brandon Green added back-to-back three-pointers to up the Beavers lead to 49-33 at the 16:51 mark of the second half.

Following a layup by Johnny Beeninga, Akibo drilled a three-pointer and Rudolph capped the run with back-to-back three-pointers giving Minot State a 58-38 lead.

The Dragons, who dropped to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play, chipped away at the lead and got within 71-63 on a three-point play by Tanner Kretchman with 4:01 to play in the contest.

Rudolph answered for the Beavers with a layup that upped the lead back to double figures with 3:01 to play in the second period. Addison Park connected on a jumper to trim the lead to 73-65, but Davis hit a jumper in the lane and Rudolph added the exclamation point with a three-pointer with 34 seconds to play.

Minot State shot 50 percent from the three-point line in the second half and turned the ball over only three times for the game. Additionally, the Beavers outrebounded the Dragons 37-32 and had 21 assists on their 32 baskets.

Minot State also clamped down on the defensive end of the floor in the second half. After allowing Minnesota State Moorhead to shoot 50 percent from the floor in the opening period, the Beavers limited the Dragons to just 32.1 percent shooting in the second half.

The Beavers return to action on Friday (Dec. 8) when it visits Augustana in a NSIC contest slated to begin at 8 p.m. Minot State will then face Wayne State on Saturday (Dec. 9) at 6 p.m.