Crookston, Minn. – The Beavers of Minot State extended their lead out to as many as sixteen late in the second half and had to fend off a furious Golden Eagle rally to knock off Minnesota Crookston, 77-72 on Saturday evening from Crookston.

The loss for the Golden Eagles is their sixth straight, falling to 1-7 overall (0-6 NSIC North), while the Beavers stay in the hunt, improving to 4-4 overall (2-2 NSIC North).

Key Plays
To start the game, the energy was high on both sides. Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 7-4 lead, with the help of a Leonard Dixon (Jr., F, Demascus, Ore.) fade away jumper and five-straight points from Josh Dilling (Fr., G, Oshkosh, Wis.). That would be the start of a career night for Dilling.

The Golden Eagles would stretch their lead to four, following two of Zach Westphal's (R-So., G, West Fargo, N.D.) career-high nine points of the night.

The Beavers would extend their lead to 35-24, but yet again, five straight points from Dilling would cut the lead to just six in the closing seconds of the first half. The Beavers would bury a three to make it a nine point game at the half.

The Beavers would take their largest lead of the game at 12, but Dixon would put a halt to the run with a three from the left wing.

A Brian Sitzmann (R-Jr., F, Savage, Minn.) three and a Dilling jumper would once again cut the Beaver lead to just six.

As was the case yesterday, Minot State would not let the Golden Eagles take the lead, having an answer for every Golden Eagle call.

The Beavers would take their largest lead of the game at 16, following a Melvin Newburn jumper with just 6:43 left in the ball game.

Minnesota Crookston would make one last run. It would start with another Dilling three ball and a pair of Ibu Jassey Demba (Sr., F, Birmingham, England) free throws.

Minnesota Crookston would make it just a six point game after a tough Sitzmann layup. Dilling would make a tough runner and got fouled to make it just a one possession game, at 67-64.

Trailing by five, Georges Darwiche (Jr., G, Bucharest, Romania) would bury a three from the right corner to make it a two point lead in favor of the Beavers. Minot State would make free throws down the stretch, to finish off the Golden Eagles.

Key Stats
The Golden Eagles would have three in double-figures, highlighted by Dilling's career-high 23 points and four assists. Dixon and Sitzmann would add 12 and 11, respectively. Westphal added a career-high nine points, while Jassey Demba added eight points, all of which coming in the second half.

Minnesota Crookston did a great job of not turning the ball over, coughing the ball up just 10 times on the night. The Golden Eagles shot 49 percent from the field and made nine three's on the night.

The big number was the rebounding. Minnesota Crookston got outrebounded 33-19 by the Beavers on the night.

What's Next
Minnesota Crookston is back in action next weekend, as they travel to the capital of North Dakota to take on the Marauders of UMary. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., from Bismarck.