MINOT, ND -- Led by a 78.9 percent shooting performance from deep, the Minot State men's basketball team knocked off the Northern State Wolves 101-65 at home Saturday.
The Beavers (21-4, 12-4 NSIC) had 4 players score in double figures, led by Ayouba Berthe, who had 25 points and 2 steals. Caleb Van De Griend tacked on a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds and Jalen Cook helped out with 16 points.
In the win, both Sam West and Ayouba Berthe reached 1,000 points in their career on the same night. On top of that, how fitting to have a hot shooting night at a time where the usual suspect Jaxon Gunville (82 3P) surpassed the NCAA-era single-season record in three-point field goals made, surpassing Thomas Korf who had 80 in the 2014-15 season.
To but a bow on it, this year's version of the Beavers have also surpassed the most wins in a single season in the NCAA-era. Tonight was the 21st win of the season (20 wins – 2017-18 & 2023-24).
Led by Van De Griend's 7 offensive rebounds, Minot State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 12 boards that resulted in 15 second chance points.
The Beavers responded in a huge way. Dylan Gichaba spoke postgame about getting things right, including grit, following a tough loss to Minnesota Crookston.
"Every game we are going to get the opponents' best game, so we have to come out and play defensively and how we know we can play night in night out," Gichaba said.
How It Happened
After falling behind 12-10, Minot State went on an 11-0 run with 15:28 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Sam West, to take a 21-12 lead. The Beavers then added 15 points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 57-33 advantage. Minot State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down nine shots to account for 27 of its 57 points.
Minot State kept its lead intact before going on an 8-0 run, finished off by Berthe's jumper, to grow the lead to 78-48 with 10:57 to go in the contest. The Beavers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 101-65 win. Minot State shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting 6 shots from deep to score 18 of its 44 points.
Game Notes
» Caleb Van De Griend notched an impressive double-double for the Beavers with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
» The Beavers were incredible from long range, knocking down 15 of 19 three point attempts.
» Minot State never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» Minot State tallied 17 total assists in the game.
» Ayouba Berthe was an assassin from behind the three point line, knocking down 7 treys.
» Minot State had a 42-17 edge on the boards in the win.
» Minot State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game.
» Ayouba Berthe had a game-high 25 points and Caleb Van De Griend added 20.
» Caleb Van De Griend nabbed a game-high 15 rebounds to lead Minot State and Sam West added 10.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
