Box Score MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University's 3-point shooting was on early.

That wasn't good news for Minnesota Crookston.

The Beavers hit 10 3-pointers before the halftime break and limited UMC to just 38 percent shooting in an 88-55 win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball Saturday at the Minot State Dome.

“We moved the basketball and being unselfish with the basketball to get great shots for each other,” said MISU head coach Matt Murken. “Shooting gets contagious after you've made a few and after a few guys make the extra pass and that really carried us tonight. Defensively, we were able to pressure them a little bit and get them in foul trouble which helped us a bit. It was a complete team effort tonight.”

The Beavers (10-14 overall, 9-11 NSIC) were all over the Golden Eagles early, building 33-14 lead on a 3-pointer by Anthony Enriquez (Sr., G, Tacoma, Wash.) with 7:05 to play in the first half. The triple by Enriquez capped an early 23-6 run that included a three each by Enriquez, Dominique McDonald (Fr., G, Raleigh, N.C.), E.J. Williams (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) and Thomas Korf (So., F, St. Cloud, Minn.).

“We've learned to take better jump shots,” Murken said. “One in rhythm with no one in your face is better than one out of rhythm with two hands in your face. We are making the right passes and not forcing bad shots and when you get guys open around the perimeter, at the college level you have players that can knock those shots down and we did that well this weekend.”
Minot State had six players hit at least one 3-pointer and all 11 players that saw time in the game scored.

UMC (3-21, 0-20) was never in the game after a short jumper by James Sparkman cut the Minot State lead to 10-8 just prior the early run by MISU. Sparkman hit his team's first eight points and ended with 14 for the game.

The Beavers led 49-20 at the break and dominated all facets of the box score. MISU outrebounded UMC 40-30, forced 15 Golden Eagle turnovers, had 19 assists on 26 made baskets, finished with 12 steals and turned the ball over just seven times.

UMC had two other players in double figures with Sparkman as Ashton Harrell scored 11 and AJ Barge finished with 10 off the bench. Harrell added five rebounds and three assists to the UMC cause.

Minot State had four players in double figures as Korf, Enriquez and Josh Johnson (Sr., F, Lufkin, Texas) all finished with 15 points. Johnson paced the Beavers with seven rebounds and Enriquez added six assists. Williams completed a solid weekend with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, while McDonald added eight points and six assists in the win.

Minot State finishes it final road weekend in conference regular season play with games at Northern State Friday and Minnesota Duluth Saturday.