Box Score MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University never got the stop or big basket it needed late.

Instead, the University of Sioux Falls knocked down free throws and pulled away from an otherwise tight ballgame, winning 70-60 in nonconference NCAA Division II men's basketball Friday at the MSU Dome.

The Beavers and Cougars weren't separated by double digits until the final score with just ticks remaining on the clock.

Sioux Falls was steady all night at the free-throw line, hitting 22-27 overall and 15 of 18 in the second half. USF outscored Minot State 22-12 from the line as the Beavers struggled to a 12-of-21 clip from the charity stripe.

MSU host a solid 58.3 percent from the floor in the first half to take a 35-34 lead into the break. The Beavers hit 14-of-24 shots. But, while MSU cooled off to 42 percent with just seven second-half baskets, USF was steady, hitting 42 percent in the second after knocking down 50 percent in the first. Neither team could find much luck from the floor in the second half, however as they combined to hit just 16 total shots.

USF (11-7 overall) had three players in double figures led by a 23-point, 9-rebound outburst by Skyler Block. A.J. Holland added 14 points and David Maxwell scored 10 points and pulled down six boards in the win.

MSU (3-16 overall) got 21 points and five rebounds from Chris East (So., G, Toronto, Ontario) in the loss. Yonas Berhe (Jr., G, Toronto, Ontario) added 17 points and six rebounds, while Thomas Korf (R-Fr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) hit three 3-pointers on his way to 11 points.

The teams – which both will move into the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference next season – return for a rare back-to-back weekend double header with a game Saturday at 4 p.m.

.