MINOT, N.D. --- It came down to the closing seconds Saturday evening at the Minot State Dome, but its was #5 Minot State that was able to come away with the 75-72 win over Minnesota State.

With the loss, the Mavericks drop to 9-7 on the season, including a 5-3 NSIC record. With the win, the Beavers improve to 17-0, including an 8-0 conference record.

"We battled through a ton of adversity and just needed to make one more play," head coach Matt Margenthaler said. "This should motivate us going forward."

The first half proved to be close throughout as neither team led by more than nine points. By the midpoint of the half, Minot State held a 20-19 lead over the Mavericks. Senior Kyreese Willingham netted seven of MSU's points in the first 10 minutes while senior Harrison Braudis tallied five points.

A 15-7 run by the Beavers gave them their largest lead of the half at 35-26 with 4:08 to go, but the Mavericks closed out the half on a 10-4 run to cut Minot State's lead to 39-36 as both teams went into the locker room. Three of MSU's points came in the final second as graduate student Drew Daniel took advantage of his three shots from the line as the game went into halftime.

Willingham led the Maverick offense in the first half with 11 points, while Braudis tallied 10 points. As a unit, the Mavericks shot 40.6% from the field in the opening stanza, to go along with a 6-of-6 showing at the line.

Caleb Van De Griend led the Beaves in the first half with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jaxon Gunville recorded nine points. As a team, Minot State shot 40.0% from the field in the first half and 14-of-14 from the free throw line.

The Mavericks came storming out in the second half as they outscored the Beavers 14-5 in the first six minutes to go up 50-44 with 14:03 to go. Willingham notched eight of MSU's points during that stretch, while Braudis recorded four. The Beavers fought their way back and exchanged the lead a few times, but the Mavericks put together a 7-0 run to go back up by six at 63-57 with 7:05 remaining.

With just under a minute to go the Mavericks still led by four points at 72-48, but a quick three from Minot State's Jalen Cook cut MSU's lead to 72-71 with :39 to go. Two Maverick fouls in the closing seconds allowed Van De Griend and Gunville to hit a pair of free throws to put the Beavers up 75-72 with just over two seconds to go. Willingham managed to get off a three point attempt but it just missed the mark as Minot State held on to the 75-72 win.

Willingham notched 26 points, marking the fifth time this season he has reached the 20-point plateau. Willingham also hauled in five rebounds and blocked three shots. Braudis scored 20 points and hauled in seven rebounds as well.

As a team, MSU shot 42.6% from the field and 16-of-18 (.889) from the free throw line. The Mavericks also forced 10 Minot State turnovers.

Van De Griend led the Beavers with 20 points and 15 rebounds as he connected on 10-of-10 shots from the line. Cook recorded 19 points as well.

As a team, Minot State shot 40.0% from the field and 22-of-25 (.880) from the free throw line.

Minnesota State returns home for a four-game homestand on Friday, Jan. 10, as it takes on the Bemidji State Beavers. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Taylor Center.