MANKATO, Minn. – Sam Morton and Brandon Koch each posted three-point nights for Minnesota State but Jackson Jutting scored the game-winner for Bemidji State as the Beavers won 7-6 Saturday at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in front of 5,008 fans. The Beavers scored three unanswered goals in the third period.
 
After allowing the first two, the Mavericks scored five first-period goals but still came up short and split the series with the Beavers after winning 5-1 Friday night.
 
"As a group we just didn't get the job done," said head coach Luke Strand. "From myself to the players, we didn't execute well enough. We had way too many breakout turnovers and credit to Bemidji State for their pressure. It was at our fingertips but we just didn't do enough to win."
 
Minnesota State (5-4-1, 3-1-0 CCHA) hosts Michigan Tech next Friday and Saturday night.
 
Jere Vaisanen and Austin Jouppi both scored for Bemidji State in the opening 3:07 of the first period but Koch answered quickly with his first career goal as a Maverick. Josh Groll provided a screen in front and Steven Bellini passed it across the top of the zone for a low wrist shot by Koch.
 
Sam Morton equaled it 2-2 on a one-timed pass from Lucas Sowder. Evan Murr also assisted. With the crowd still standing, Sowder took a feed in the slot from Morton behind the goal line to give the Mavericks three goals over a 6:27 span and a 3-2 edge.
 
Morton added his second of the game (10^th of the season) at 12:42 after stick handling through the middle and firing one top shelf on goaltender Raythan Robbins. It took Kaden Bohlson just 13 seconds after Morton's tally to give the Mavericks their fifth marker of the period (Will Hillman assist). With an 11-10 shot advantage, MSU took a 5-3 lead into the second period.
 
Evan Murr dropped to his knees to block a shot on the penalty kill but the Beavers cycled it from Lleyton Roed to Vince Corcoran, and eventually to Eric Pohlkamp on the back door as BSU closed to within one 8:27 into the period. The Mavericks added insurance on the power play. Bellini held the offensive zone and Koch found Tyler Haskins at the top of the zone for his second goal of the season and a 6-4 advantage at 16:15 of the second.
 
Corcoran rang a shot off the crossbar on the power play nearing the midway point of the third period. At 13:58 Jackson Jutting one-timed a pass from Alexander Lundman to bring the Beavers back to a one-goal deficit. Lleyton Roed tied it at 14:48 and Jutting put the Beavers in the lead for the final time at 15:54 at even strength. Mankato native Kyle Looft helped BSU with three assists.
 
"The first thing that comes to mind is we have to play a full 60-minute game," Sam Morton said. "We have to complete periods and eliminate breakdowns. It comes down to improving habits. We just have to be heavier, manage the puck and manage risk a little better."
 
The Mavericks went 2-for-4 on the power play while Bemidji State converted 1-for-3 with the man advantage. MSU led in shots 27-20, including ten in the third period.
 
Morton improved to second in the CCHA in scoring with a team-high ten goals. Morton also extended his point streak to six. In addition to Morton and Koch with three points apiece, Luc Wilson and Lucas Sowder also had two-point evenings. The loss broke up a four-game unbeaten span for Minnesota State.

The Beavers also notched a comeback victory last Saturday when they scored six unanswered goals to defeat Michigan Tech 6-4. Bemidji State (5-7-0, 4-4-0 CCHA) travels to No. 4 North Dakota next weekend.