MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University outscored the University of Jamestown 53-43 to rally from a halftime deficit to win 82-73 in nonconference NCAA Division II men's basketball Tuesday at the Minot State Dome.

The Beavers (1-2 overall) trailed in their home opener 30-29 at the break as they opened with just 37.5 percent shooting. MSU, however, torched the nets in the second, making 23 of 38 shots.

"There weren't any halftime adjustments," MSU head coach Matt Murken said. "We were just better at what we do every day. We were tougher on both ends. We were tougher to finish shots and tougher to contain the ball and rotate on defense."

MSU's Tyler Rudolph poured in 18 of his team-high 22 points in the second half to lead the charge for the Beavers. MSU also got eight apiece from Stevan Jovanovic and Nathan Mertens in the second half. Luis Ricci Maia and Nathaniel Moore scored seven each after the break.

"Rudy was much more himself in the second half," said Murken. "They were doubling down on him and he let that bother him in the first half. In the second he just played. Ricci was more aggressive and we moved as a team better."

The Beavers had a chance to blow the game open as they led by 11 midway through the second half. But UJ (1-3 overall) kept it close mostly behind long-range shooting by Jake Hagler. Hagler scored 19 to pace the Jimmies, hitting four 3-pointers in the process.

But MSU responded down the stretch with some key stops, keeping the lead nearly the entire second half. Minot State held the Jimmies without a field goal in the final 2:20 of the game.

Rudolph finished with a double-double as he pulled down 12 rebounds to go along with 22 points. He also dished out five assists and added a steal. Mertens finished with 19 points, six rebounds and two steals, Maia added 13 points and Jovanovic 12. Moore scored nine points and Brandon Green pulled down six rebounds, both off the bench.

"Winning is something you have to learn how to do and every team, every year it's different," Murken said. "We had some different guys in different roles out there late. Brandon ignited us off the bench late with his rebounding."

The Beavers are back in action Wednesday night as they play host to former rival Dickinson State starting at 8 p.m. at the Dome.

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.