WINONA, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team opened the new year with a 68-65 win over Winona State on Friday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action in Winona, Minn.

MSUM improves to 10-5 overall and 4-3 in the NSIC with its third straight win while WSU falls to 5-8 overall and 2-5 in the NSIC.

Four Dragons scored in double figures with junior guard Johnny Beeninga leading the team with 14 points. Freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner and senior forward Addison Park each contributed 13 points. Senior guard Travaun Coad had 11 points and a team-best 12 rebounds. Freshman guard Siman Sem had four blocks on the night.

MSUM shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the field compared to 33.3 percent (24-of-72) from the Warriors. The Warriors held a 39-36 edge in rebounds.

The Dragons opened the first half with an 11-6 lead thanks to a layup from Coad. The Warriors maintained pressure but were never able to surpass the Dragons as MSUM held a 31-27 lead going into halftime. Beeninga contributed eight points in the first half.

Winona State managed to capture a 32-31 lead at the 18:13 mark in the second half and went on a scoring run to go up 39-34 with 15:40 remaining. MSUM tied the game 54-54 with 6:16 on the clock off a Coad three-pointer and reclaimed the lead shortly after off a jumper from freshman Bryce Irsfeld.

There was back-and-forth action down the stretch, but a jumper from Baumgartner gave MSUM a 68-65 lead to seal the deal.

MSUM is back in action at Upper Iowa on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight's win was the first victory on the road on this date since an 84-64 trouncing of Southwest Minnesota State in 2011. Charlie Chapman drilled 7-of-8 three-pointers en route to a game-high 23 points to pace the Dragons.