MINOT, N.D. – Minnesota State University Moorhead improved to 12-3 overall and 7-2 in the NSIC with a win over Minot State (7-8, 3-6 NSIC) on Friday night in Minot, N.D. by a final score of 82-74. Senior guard Aaron Lien led the way for the Dragons scoring 31 points.
 
How it Happened…
An 11-2 run to open up the first half from the Dragons was answered by the Beavers with a 10-0 run of their own seeing the game knotted at 20-20 with 8:25 left in the first half. However, Minot State headed into the locker rooms with a 42-38 lead at halftime. Lien scored a team-high 18 points for the Dragons in the first half. MSUM shot 48.3 percent (14-29) from the field in the first half, while Minot State shot 51.5 percent (17-33).
 
With neither team able to pull away for the majority of the second half, with the game tied at 65-65 late in the second half MSUM used a 9-0 run to build its first sizeable lead. Up 74-65 with 3:15 remaining, the Dragons hit 8-of-10 free throws securing the 82-74 win.
 
MSUM finished the contest 25-of-49 from the field (51.0 percent), with Minot State finishing 31-of-67 (46.3 percent). The Dragons dominated the glass 40-26 and finished the game with six assists.
 
Impact Performances…
Senior guard Aaron Lien, MSUM's leading scorer, registered a team-high 31 points off 9-of-13 from the field. Lien shot 10-for-11 from the free throw line, and hauled in nine rebounds.
 
Junior guard Tanner Kretchman went 7-for-11 from the field for 21 points. Kretchman had three assists, one steal and one rebound.
 
Senior forward Ayob Ayob added 16 points for the Dragons, while senior guard Jon Doss hauled in a team-high 11 rebounds.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game…
Tonight's win marked the 11^th straight win over Minot State (all between 2011-present). The last time the Dragons lost to the Beavers was an 81-77 decision in Minot on Dec. 12, 1994.
 
Up Next…
The Dragons conclude their road trip at Mary on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m.