Kari Gibb/MDN MSU senior Jalen Cook (21) breaks away, looking for a pass from red shirt junior Dylan Gichaba (12) in previous action at the Dome. The Beavers split games over the weekend with a win in South Dakota (Saturday) and a loss in Nebraska (Friday)

The Minot State University (MSU) men hit the road over the weekend looking to improve on the previous weekend where the team suffered two losses.

MSU Men’s Basketball 82, Augustana 77

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Back in the win column! The MSU men’s basketball team won another close contest, this time over the Augustana Vikings to end a 3-game losing skid.

Caleb Van De Griend scored 26 points and Jalen Cook added 23 as the Beavers beat the Vikings 82-77 on the road Saturday, January 18.

Van De Griend and Cook’s stellar scoring performances led the Beavers (18-3, 9-3) in the contest. Van De Griend tacked on 18 rebounds. Sam West also helped out with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, almost securing the triple-double.

The MSU offense was very productive from deep, making 13 threes on 31 attempts. Cook was the most prolific shooter for the Beavers, draining seven treys in the contest.

Coach Murken was pleased with the response from his team in a tough road environment.

“That was a really hard-fought win. We are in a tough stretch right now. Not only are we on the road for 4 straight, we’ve played teams that are playing one game weeks, the week they play us or the week before they play us. That’s tough,” said Murke. “Our guys responded well to adversity tonight. Same goal for Monday: get in the gym, get in the film room, get in the weight room, get better.”

MSU started out the scoring by going on a 10-0 run, culminating in a three from Cook, to take an early lead with 15:08 left in the first half. The Beavers then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 36-33.

After intermission, MSU kept the Vikings from increasing their lead before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Van De Griend’s layup, to seize a 56-52 lead with 9:06 to go in the contest. The Beavers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 82-77 win.

MSU shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting 9 shots from deep to score 27 of its 49 points.

Wayne State College 78, MSU Men’s Basketball 69

WAYNE, NE — Caleb Van De Griend registered a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds, but the MSU men’s basketball team fell to the Wayne State College Wildcats 78-69 on the road Friday, January 17.

The Beavers (17-3, 8-3) had 3 players score in double figures, led by Van De Griend, who had a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Jaxon Gunville tacked on 19 points and Ayouba Berthe chipped in as well with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

The MSU offense was productive from deep, pouring in 9 threes on 23 attempts. Gunville was the most prolific shooter for the Beavers, draining 5 treys in the contest.

Another slow start makes for another tall hill to climb for the Beavers as they dropped three straight.

MSU struggled out of the gate, falling behind 48-35 heading into halftime. Wayne State kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 59-45 advantage before MSU went on a 10-0 run, finished off by Jalen Cook’s jumper, to shrink the deficit to 59-55 with 12:47 to go in the contest.

Wayne State responded and outscored the Beavers the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 78-69. MSU shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting six shots from deep to score 18 of its 34 points.