Box Score SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minot State University's second half comeback was derailed by timely free throw shooting by Augustana College.

Minot State nearly wiped out a 16-point Vikings' lead by cutting the lead to one point multiple times down the stretch, but Augie kept the lead from the line.

Augustana College hit 22 of 31 from the line in the game and 13 of its final 14 free throws to hold off Minot State 72-70 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball Saturday at Elmen Center.

“The first thing we told them in the locker room is we just ran out of time,” said MISU head coach Matt Murken. “We were coming at them pretty good. But the reality is we had 12 minutes in the first half where we don't play hard. You don't get to ask for extra time because you didn't play hard early.”

The loss snapped a two-game overall winning streak by Minot State (6-10 overall, 5-7 NSIC) and ended a three-game road winning streak for the Beavers.

MISU looked all but buried as the Vikings (12-4, 8-4) took a 16-point lead with just 1:30 remaining in the first half. But Chris East (Jr., G, Toronto, Ontario) scored on a layup and Adam Randall (So., G, Steele, N.D.) hit a 3-pointer to make it a manageable 31-20 deficit at the half.

The Beavers outscored Augustana College 50-41 in the second half, setting a season high in points in a half in NSIC contests. Minot State hit 18 of 30 shots in the second half to push its overall percentage to 44.1.

Augie didn't shoot the ball well from the field, hitting just 36.8 percent from the floor and 33.3 on 3-pointers, but did hit eight 3s. The Vikings also finished with just eight turnovers compared to 14 by Minot State.

“We changed our rotation in the second half and did a better job,” Murken said. “We just didn't get that big stop down the stretch. Credit there guys, they did a good job of holding us off.”

Cameron McCaffrey and Daniel Jansen paced the Vikings with 15 points apiece. Joe Burt added 14 and Zach Huisken and Yuriy Malashenko each chipped in with 1o as five scored in double figures in the win.

The Beavers had superb balance as they finished with four players in double figures and three others who finished with six points. Dominique McDonald (Fr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) finished with a team-high 15 points and added three assists. Josh Johnson (Sr., F, Lufkin, Texas) scored 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds and Randall and East each scored 11 points in the loss. East also pulled down seven boards for the Beavers.

“Hopefully we are getting to the point where a road split, even in a two-point game, isn't acceptable anymore,” said Murken. “We want to get two on the road.”

Minot State returns home this week for the first of four straight at the Minot State Dome, playing host to St. Cloud State Friday and Minnesota Duluth Saturday.

– GO BEAVERS –