Box Score MINOT, N.D. – In a contest that featured very little separation, the difference in Minot State University's win over rival University of Mary came down to the free throw line.

The Beavers outscored U-Mary 40-12 from the line thanks in part to a big 15-of-17 shooting night from E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) as the Beavers ousted the Marauders 96-87 in overtime in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for both teams Saturday at the Minot State Dome.

"My points tonight were because I took what they gave me," said Williams, who scored a game- and career-high 30 points. "The coaches drew up a few plays for me tonight and really trusted me to make plays as well having my big men come and screen for me and putting me in great situations."

Williams was especially deadly from the line in overtime as he hit 9 of 10, scoring 11 of the Beavers' 18 points in the extra session. MISU finished the night going 40 for 46 from line line.

"Every game is a big game especially when you start conference play and you have to defend your home court," said MISU head coach Matt Murken. "It was just a very high level basketball game and every kid that stepped on the court tonight was competing at a high level for both teams. Guys were on the floor and on the glass. It was a big-time energy game and I thought it was a real battle. I'm really proud of our guys because we definitely came through down the stretch when we needed to get stops and we needed to get baskets."

Minot State (5-0 overall, 1-0 NSIC) forced overtime with a big defensive stand with under 10 seconds to play and the game tied. The Beavers then outscored U-Mary 18-8 in the final 4:07 after the Marauders hit a free throw to start overtime.

"We have a tough bunch on our hands and we have guys that are really tough and like to compete," added Murken. "Our practices are extremely competitive on a daily basis and our guys are used to having to go out and make plays to win. Our execution may be up and down, but we are going to play hard and get on the floor for a loose ball. When it comes to the end of the game, we aren't afraid of those big situations and tonight we were able to make enough of those plays to get the win."

The Marauders (2-4, 0-1) opened up an eight-point lead on a pair of free throws by Devan Douglas with just under six minutes to play in the first half. Minot State countered by closing that lead to one a couple times and took a 36-35 lead just before the half on a 3-pointer by Thomas Korf (Jr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.).

From there it was a tussle as neither team took a double-figure lead in the game and there were 10 lead changes and nine ties throughout.

U-Mary shot the ball well from the floor in regulation, hitting 15 of 32 in the first half and 15 for 26 in the second for over 50 percent, but struggled in the overtime making just 2 of 7. They were consistently bad from the foul line throughout, making just 12 of 27 free throws in the game, and 3 of 8 in the extra session.

Five U-Mary players hit for double figures paced by 18 apiece for Damonta Henry and Douglas. Brandon Tyler and Chris Mason added 12 each and Germain Decoste scored 10 points and pulled down eight rebounds for the Marauders.

"We had to out rebound them tonight," Williams said. "That was the big advantage for tonight's game. Mary was able to keep it close and take the lead several times because they were able to outrebound us during certain parts of both halves. In the end we forced overtime and eventually the win because we started to compete on the boards."

The Beavers outrebounded the Marauders 39-35 in the contest.

Along with Williams', Minot State had three others in double figures as Samuel Johnson (Sr., F, Las Vegas, Nev.) hit for 19 points and pulled down five rebounds, Dominique McDonald (So., G, Raleigh, N.C.) added 12 points and six assists and Adam Randall (Jr., G, Steele, N.D.) netted 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

Minot State, which is off to its best start in over 30 years, finishes up its early-season homestand with a pair of NSIC games Friday and Saturday. The Beavers play host to Northern State Friday at 8 p.m. and end the weekend with a 6 p.m. clash with Minnesota State-Moorhead at the Dome.