Kari Gibb/MDN MSU senior Jaxon Gunville (24) shoots another 3-pointer in the Beaver’s game against Northern State on Saturday, February 1, at the MSU Dome. Gunville, a Minot High alum, broke the MSU 3-point shooting record of 82 3-point baskets in a season.

Led by a 78.9 percent shooting performance from deep, the Minot State University (MSU) men’s basketball team knocked off the Northern State Wolves 101-65 at home Saturday.

The Beavers (21-4, 12-4 NSIC) had 4 players score in double figures, led by Ayouba Berthe, who had 25 points and 2 steals. Caleb Van De Griend tacked on a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds and Jalen Cook helped out with 16 points.

In the win, both Sam West and Ayouba Berthe reached 1,000 points in their career on the same night. On top of that, how fitting to have a hot shooting night at a time where the usual suspect Jaxon Gunville (82 3P) surpassed the NCAA-era single-season record in three-point field goals made, surpassing Thomas Korf who had 80 in the 2014-15 season.

To put a bow on it, this year’s version of the Beavers have also surpassed the most wins in a single season in the NCAA-era. Tonight was the 21st win of the season (20 wins – 2017-18 & 2023-24).

Led by Van De Griend’s seven offensive rebounds, Minot State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 12 boards that resulted in 15 second chance points.

The Beavers responded in a huge way. Dylan Gichaba spoke postgame about getting things right, including grit, following a tough loss to Minnesota Crookston.

“Every game we are going to get the opponents’ best game, so we have to come out and play defensively and how we know we can play night in night out,” said Gichaba.

After falling behind 12-10, MSU went on an 11-0 run with 15:28 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Sam West, to take a 21-12 lead. The Beavers then added 15 points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 57-33 advantage.

MSU relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down nine shots to account for 27 of its 57 points.

MSU kept its lead intact before going on an 8-0 run, finished off by Berthe’s jumper, to grow the lead to 78-48 with 10:57 to go in the contest. The Beavers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 101-65 win. MSU shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting 6 shots from deep to score 18 of its 44 points.

Minnesota Crookston 68, MSU Men 65

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Caleb Van De Griend notched a double-double with 29 points and 14 rebounds, but the MSU men’s basketball team fell to the Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles 68-65 on the road Wednesday.

The Beavers had two players score in double figures, led by Van De Griend, who had a double-double with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Jalen Cook added 12 points and Sam West added eight points and six rebounds.

MSU pulled down 36 rebounds in Wednesday’s game compared to Minnesota-Crookston’s 28, led by Van De Griend’s 14 boards. The Beavers also got to the offensive glass, turning 12 rebounds into 13 second chance points.

Unfortunately, it was not the Beavers’ night as shots did not fall for head coach Matt Murken’s squad.

“We didn’t share the ball well enough to overcome a poor shooting night. When you aren’t making jump shots you have to be great in moving the ball and fighting for even better shots. We didn’t do that tonight and it cost us,” said Murken.

After falling behind 6-4, Minot State went on a 6-0 run with 16:42 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Van De Griend, to take a 10-6 lead. The Beavers then lost some of that lead but still entered halftime with a 29-26 advantage. MSU did most of its first half damage in the paint, scoring 20 of its 29 points close to the basket.

Minnesota-Crookston then erased the Minot State lead in the second half for a 68-65 comeback victory. Minot State took care of business in the paint, recording 20 of its 36 points in the lane.