SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Can the Minot State men's basketball team turn the momentum of a dramatic triple-overtime win into a long run at the NSIC title?

The Beavers find out starting Saturday, Feb. 25, when they take the next step in their NSIC Men's Basketball Tournament run, playing regular-season champion and 18^th-ranked Northern State at 4:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.

The Wolves (23-5 overall) got the first round off and were able to watch the drama unfold as the Beavers (11-16) got a buzzer-beating, 20-foot jump shot from Cam'ron Dunfee to lift them over host Southwest Minnesota State, 86-85 on Tuesday night in the first round of the NSIC playoffs.

Dunfee finished with 15 points in that win while Khari Broadway – who was named to the NSIC All-Conference 2^nd Team on Thursday - scored 19 points, Ben Bohl added 18 points, and Jalon Cook had nine points and seven rebounds for Minot State.

While the win gives Minot State momentum, and a spot in the quarterfinals, Tuesday's dramatic victory is also history and the Beavers now will focus on a tough Northern State team, but an opponent the Beavers have had success against.

Back on Dec. 3, Minot State rolled to an 82-62 win over the Wolves at the MSU Dome, one of just three NSIC losses for Northern State.

And just last Saturday the teams met again, this time in Aberdeen, S.D., with Northern State holding on for a 74-71 win as the Beavers could not get off a shot attempt to tie in the final seconds.

Dunfee has led a balanced effort against the Wolves, averaging 13.5 points per game in the two meetings, while Broadway is averaging 10 ppg. In the Beavers home win in December, Michael Jok added 15 points, Jalen Cook had 13, and Jaxon Gunville scored 12 points for Minot State.

Northern State claimed the regular-season NSIC title by playing strong offense and tough defense this season as the Wolves are the second-highest scoring team in the NSIC averaging 81.4 ppg, the third-best shooting team at 47.4 percent, and defensively they are No. 2 in lowest opponent field-goal percentage at 43.2 percent.

Individually, the Wolves are led by 6-foot-3 senior guard Sam Masten who was named the NSIC North Division Player of the Year as he averaged 18.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game this season. Against the Beavers, Masten averaged 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in their two meetings.

Saturday's winner advances to the semifinals on Monday, Feb. 27, at 4:30 p.m. and will play the winner of Upper Iowa versus Minnesota Duluth.