Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston outscored Minot State by six points in the second half, including a 4-0 run with less than a minute left to knock off No. 17/20 Minot State on Wednesday night, 68-65.
 
The win over the Beavers was the first Golden Eagle win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 22, 2013, when they knocked off St. Cloud State, also by three. Minnesota Crookston assistant coach Tim Lubke was on that team. It's the highest ranked opponent the Golden Eagles have knocked off in program history.
 
The Golden Eagles improve to 5-16 (4-11 NSIC).
 
It would be a hot start for the Golden Eagles, who would score the first four points, on easy finishes in the lane from Reid Grant (Sr., G, Johnston, Iowa) and Andrew Stokes (Jr., F, Westchester, Ill.).
 
Minot State would go on a 10-2 run from that point, but the Golden Eagles would score five in a row on a bucket from Jordan Mitchell (R-Sr., F, Columbus, Ohio) and a transition three from Micah Garrett (Jr., G, Portland, Ore.).
 
The game would continue to be tight in the first half and would see four ties from that point, but the Beavers would go into the halftime break with a three point advantage at 29-26.
 
Grant would get the scoring started in the second half and Stokes would tie it with a left wing three, early on in the second half.
 
Five minutes into the second half, Stokes would give the Golden Eagles another four point lead with a tough finish in the paint.
 
Minot State would tie the game at 48, but Garrett would finish a mid-range jumper for a two-point lead and Brayden Carlson (Fr., C, Woodbury, Minn.) would finish a poster dunk over Caleb Van de Griend to regain a 52-50 lead.
 
Minot State's Ayouba Berthe would hit the first three of the night for the Beavers to take a brief one point lead, but Stokes would finish a layup on a steal to regain a 58-57 lead.
 
The game would see a 64-61 Golden Eagle lead with less than two minutes left on a pair of free throws from Aguek Deng (Sr., F, Des Moines, Iowa), but Minot State would answer with four straight points for a one point lead with 42 seconds remaining.
 
Following a timeout, the Golden Eagles would go to their trusty veteran Grant, who would give them a bucket with a teardrop in lane, sending the Golden Eagle crowd into a frenzy and a one point lead for the maroon and gold.
 
The Golden Eagles would get a stop on the next possession and GD Deng (Jr., G, Des Moines, Iowa) would bury a pair of massive free throws, giving the Golden Eagles a three point lead with five seconds left.
 
Minnesota Crookston would force a miss on the final possession and earn the thrilling three-point win over the Beavers.
 
Grant continues his stellar play over the last three games, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists. Stokes was equally as stellar, scoring 19 points and pulling down three rebounds. Mitchell and Garrett each added nine points for the maroon and gold.
 
For the second straight season, the Golden Eagles have held an opponent to 1-21 shooting from long range, as the Beavers made their season low in three-point makes.
 
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will look for their third straight win on Saturday afternoon at the University of Mary. Tip-off is set for 3:30 P.M., from the MAC.