CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team was defeated 86-66 by Minot State University Saturday, February 5 at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. Minot State outscored the Golden Eagles 79-53 after Minnesota Crookston opened the game with a 13-7 advantage. The Beavers were propelled by an 11-0 run in the first half.

Minnesota Crookston splits the weekend. The Golden Eagles have had their best stretch since November as they are 4-3 since a January 14 victory over Concordia University-St. Paul. Minnesota Crookston remains in the hunt for the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament. The Golden Eagles are in seventh in the NSIC North. The top six teams in each division make the tournament. Minot State improved to 13-7 (7-7 NSIC) with the win. The Beavers have captured the last four wins in the series against Minnesota Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston was propelled by the play of Ethan Channel (R-Jr., G, Beaverton, Ore.), with 22 points on 7-of-13 from the field, and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Brian Sitzmann (R-Sr., G, Savage, Minn.) added 11 points and six boards. Nathaniel Powell (R-So., F/C, Nottingham, England) added nine points and four rebounds, while Jerome Mabry (R-So., G/F, Milwaukee, Wis.) chipped in nine points and five boards.

The Golden Eagles were 24-of-58 from the field for 41.4 percent. Minnesota Crookston went 9-of-24 from beyond the arc for 37.5 percent, and 9-of-13 for 69.2 percent from the foul line. The Golden Eagles finished with 17 turnovers. They were edged on the boards 35-32.

Minot State had a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures. Ben Bohl had 19 points and five rebounds, going 6-of-9 from the field. Max Cody also had 19 points. Melvin Newbern finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kody Dwyer finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Jaxon Gunville came off the bench for 15 points.

The Beavers were 31-of-60 for 51.7 percent. Minot State hit 6-of-16 from beyond the arc for 37.5 percent. They were 18-of-21 from the stripe for 85.7 percent. The Beavers had 36 points in the paint, and 18 points off turnovers.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 13-7 advantage after Channel drained a three with 13:48 remaining in the first half. Minot State responded with an 11-0 run lifted by nine points from Gunville, as they led 18-13 with 10:43 left in the first stanza. Minot State pushed their lead out to 23-15 with a Gunville triple with 8:37 remaining in the half. UMN Crookston pulled within 25-21 with a Channel trey with 6:11 left in the period. Five-straight points from Bohl extended the Minot State lead to 30-21. The Beavers went into the locker room with  momentum, as they held a 42-29 advantage.

The Beavers pushed out to a 15-point advantage after a Newbern bucket with 17:04 remaining in the game. Minnesota Crookston did not give in, as they made a charge. The Golden Eagles used a 13-2 run to pull within four points (51-47) after an Uzo Dibiamaka (R-So., G, Adelaide, South Australia) three-pointer with 13:35 remaining. Minot State held off the Golden Eagle charge, as they extended their lead back out to 66-55 on a Gunville trey. The Beavers would come away with the 86-66 victory as they held off Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles will trek to Minnesota State University Moorhead Friday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn.