Box Score MANKATO, Minn. – Minot State University pushed No. 22 Minnesota State for much of the game, but couldn't keep up with the Mavericks' scoring pace, falling 104-95 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball Saturday at the Taylor Center.

Minot State (7-13 overall, 3-13 NSIC) scored its second highest point total – and most in regulation – this season, but gave up a season high as well. Both teams sizzled from the field as the Beavers were edged by the Mavericks 59 to 57 percent and the teams combined for 21 3-pointers in the game.

Minnesota State (19-4, 13-3) led by as many as 14 in the first half, but couldn't shake MISU. The Beavers closed the 14-point lead to just nine at the break. Still, the Mavericks finished with an outstanding 60 percent shooting from the field and knocked down 10 of 15 3-pointers by the break.

The Beavers made two significant runs in the second half to keep it close. First, they cut the halftime lead to just five on a 3-pointer by Thomas Korf (Jr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) four minutes into the second half. The second, and more significant, came midway through the half as Dominique McDonald (So., G, Raleigh, N.C.) knocked down one of his school record tying eight 3-pointers to make it a one-point Minnesota State lead with 9:28 remaining.

But MSU's Zach Monaghan answered both runs with big baskets. He answered the Korf 3 with a 3-pointer of his own to push the Mavericks lead back to eight and then answered the McDonald triple with a jumper to give MSU a 76-73 lead. Monaghan led all scorers with 31 points, including six 3-pointers, 11-of-13 shooting on free throws and 14 assists.

The basket spurred the Mavericks to a 30-22 advantage in the final nine minutes as MSU hit 19 of its final 22 free throws to keep the upset-minded Beavers at bay. Minnesota State ended the game hitting 31 of 36 from the foul line overall, outscoring MISU 31-15 from the line.

Along with Monaghan, Tanner Adler, Assem Marei and Gage Wooten all finished with double figures for MSU. Adler scored 21 on six 3s, Marei hit for 18 and pulled down seven rebounds and Wooten scored 11 in the win.

McDonald, who tied Nathaniel Packineau's record for 3s in a game set in the 2009-10 season, finished with a career-high 29 points on 10 of 15 shooting overall. He had three assists, two rebounds and just two turnovers in 35 minutes. E.J. Williams (Sr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) scored 20 points and added five assists and four rebounds and Samuel Johnson (Sr., F, Las Vegas, Nev.) finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. Korf hit 3 of 6 triples to end with 11 points for the Beavers.

Minot State stays on the road for another weekend of NSIC games, traveling to Bemidji State Friday and Minnesota Crookston Saturday with games set for 8 p.m. and 6 p.m.