SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- For the second time this season Minnesota State and Minot State went into overtime, but this time the extra session favored the Mavericks as Minnesota State defeated Minot State 87-79.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 22-8, while the Beavers finish their season with a 19-11 record. Minnesota State will now take on #11 Northern State in the third round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament on Monday at the Sanford Pentagon. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

The lead changed hands five times in the first half as neither team led by more than seven points. Minot State built its largest lead of the first half with 13:26 to go as a three pointer from David Akibo put the Beavers up 14-10. The Mavericks responded right away as they went on a 12-2 run to go up 22-16 with 10:00 minutes to go in the half. Five different Mavericks reached the scoring column during MSU's 12-2 run.

The Mavericks held the lead through the rest of the first half as they went into the locker room with a 38-33 lead. 

Junior Cole Harper and sophomore Kevin Krieger led the MSU offense in the opening stanza with eight points each. Harper also passed out four assists. As a team, the Mavericks shot 42.4% from the field in the first half, including a 6-of-14 (.429) performance from long range.

Akibo led all scorers with 11 points, while David Russ tallied 10 points. As a team, the Beavers shot 13-of-25 (.520) from the field. They also enjoyed an 18-15 advantage in rebounds.

The second half saw the Mavericks build a 12 point lead at 61-49 with just 8:11 to go in the game. MSU managed to keep at least a two score lead over the Beavers for the next four minutes, but MISU was able to chip away at the Maverick lead and eventually knotted up the score at 65-65 with 3:35 remaining.

The lead would change hands seven times in the final 3:35 of the game, but Minot State held a 74-72 lead with 11 seconds left. The Mavericks were then forced to foul and with three seconds left. MISU's Rudolph connected on one of two attempts to put the Beavers up 75-72 with three seconds left.

Senior Chris Kendrix then threw a long inbounds pass down the court that found Krieger who was able to get a three pointer to drop as time expired to send the game into overtime.

With momentum on their side, the Mavericks took control in overtime as they shot 5-of-7 from the field to lock down an 87-79 overtime victory.

Five Mavericks finished the game with at least 10 points, including Krieger who tallied 19 points and six rebounds. Senior Charlie Brown finished his night with 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while Harper added 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Both Kendrix and sophomore Cameron Kirksey added 12 points each.

As a team, Minnesota State shot 45.7% from the field. The Mavericks also hauled in 37 rebounds and passed out 21 assists. 

Rudolph finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, while Nathaniel Moore posted 19 points. As a team, MISU shot 47.5% from the field and 18-of-21 (.810) from the free throw line.



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