Kari Gibb/MDN MSU’s Caleb Van De Griend posted 24 points and ten rebounds in the NSIC Men’s Basketball Tournament Final on Tuesday, March 4, but the Beavers were unable to win the title.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Caleb Van De Griend secured a double-double with 24 points and ten rebounds, but the Minot State University (MSU)men’s basketball team fell to the Minnesota State-Moorhead Dragons 78-66 at the Sanford Pentagon Tuesday.

In addition to Van De Griend’s impressive showing, the Beavers (26-9) were led by Sam West, who had 6 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, and by Jaxon Gunville, who added 11 points.

Led by Van De Griend’s five offensive rebounds, Minot State did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 11 boards that resulted in 12 second chance points.

MSU will now have to wait until Sunday at 10:00 p.m. (CT) to see if they earn an at-large bid to the NCAA National Tournament. Their fate will be in the hands of the Selection Show, which can be viewed online at NCAA.com for full results.

After jumping out to a 6-4 advantage, MSU went on a 10-0 run with 15:31 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Daryl Rice Jr, to increase its lead to 16-4. The Beavers then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 35-34.

Minnesota State-Moorhead kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 69-56 advantage before Minot State went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Gunville’s layup, to shrink the deficit to 69-62 with 1:47 to go in the contest.

Minnesota State-Moorhead responded and outscored the Beavers the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 78-66. Minot State took care of business in the paint, recording 16 of its 32 points in the lane.