CROOKSTON, Minn. – It got a little closer than Minot State University wanted it.

But a win is a win – and a road win at that.

Minot State held Minnesota Crookston to just 14 first-half points and then fended off a barrage of 3-pointers by the Golden Eagles to earn an 80-73 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball win Saturday at Lysaker Gymnasium.

The Beavers (9-5 overall, 4-4 NSIC) surpassed last season's win total and moved back to .500 in NSIC play. MSU also equaled their NSIC win total from 2013-14.

"We did a great job of executing our game plan both defensively and offensively," said MSU head coach Matt Murken. "I'm very proud of our focus and energy tonight. When we combine those two aspects, we are a dangerous team."

Minnesota Crookston (6-6, 4-4) did next to nothing offensively until the final nine minutes of the game to make it closer than it appeared it was going to be. The Beavers held UMC to less than 10 points until the 4:11 mark in the first half and led by 19 on a three-point play by Winton Williams (Jr., F, Plainfield, Ill.) with 12 minutes to play.

But the Golden Eagles scored 46 points in the final 12 minutes, hitting six of their 10 3-pointers in the last nine minutes of the game. When UMC wasn't hitting 3s, the Golden Eagles pulled down offensive rebounds to keep plays alive.

In the end, however, the Beavers had built too big of a lead, had too much offensive balance and made just enough free throws. MSU was 17 for 25 from the line, hitting 13 of 19 in the second half and went 9 for 12 in the final 1:21 to preserve the win.

The Beavers were extremely efficient in the game, hitting 54.4 percent from the field, knocking down 19-of-29 shots in the second half, despite making just 1 of 12 3-pointers. Thomas Korf (Sr., F, St. Cloud, Minn.) hit a key 3 in the second half as the Beavers only triple, getting outscored 30-3 from beyond the arc.

Derrick Redd scored 21 points to lead UMC and had three assists. Kevin Larson added 13 points, nine rebounds and three assists playing all 40 minutes.

Minot State's post play was solid all night as big men Lamont Prosser (Sr., F, Fort Wayne, Ind.), Tyler Rudolph (Fr., F, Bismarck, N.D.) and Williams combined for 36 points and 22 rebounds. Prosser finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points and added 10 rebounds. Rudolph hit 5 of 6 shots and finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Williams added nine points and five rebounds in nine minutes on the court.

Everett Robinson (Sr., G, Grand Junction, Colo.) scored 14 points and pulled down five rebounds as MSU had six players with at least eight points and four in double figures. Joining Robinson, Rudolph and Posser in double figures was Dominique McDonald (Jr., G, Raleigh, N.C.) who had 12 points and six assists for the Beavers.
              
MSU makes its 2015 debut at the MSU Dome, with two tough NSIC North Division games, taking on Northern State Friday and high-flying No. 19 Minnesota State University Moorhead Saturday.