MARQUETTE, Mich. – MSU Moorhead would surrender a 16-point second half lead as Northern Michigan would have the Dragons on the ropes in the waning seconds. However, MSUM would force an overtime period and power past the Wildcats, 83-79, in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.
 
Jacob Beeninga would pace the Dragons through the first five minutes of play as the junior netted 11 of MSUM's 13 points in the stretch. Beeninga made four of his first seven field goal attempts including three three-point makes. Northern Michigan was able to keep pace thanks to a five of nine ledger from the floor in that same stretch. The two teams would be tied at 13 points before MSUM would go on a 9-2 run midway though the period to jump ahead 27-17. Jacob Jennissen and Ja'Kair Sanchez started the run for MSUM before Gabe Myren and Beeninga polished off the strong stretch. 
 
The Wildcats would cut into that lead before the half, coming as close as four points with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. From there, both teams would score seven points through the remainder of the half as the Dragons led 39-33 through 20 minutes. 
 
Beeninga was strong throughout the half, scoring 21 points including five three-point makes. Sanchez added in seven points on three of five shooting in the frame. The Dragons would utilize 12 second chance points in the half to build the lead despite Northern Michigan shooting 50 percent from the field. 
 
MSUM would open up the second half on a massive 15-5 run to push their lead to a comfortable 16 points with just over 14 minutes remaining in the half. However, Northern Michigan would continue to shoot the ball effectively from the floor, making 47.1 percent of their shots through 13 minutes of play in the final half. Two three-pointers helped bring the Wildcats to within a basket with just over eight minutes remaining. The Dragons cooled off following their opening run of the half, scoring just seven points in an eight-minute span.
 
Northern Michigan would grab the lead with just over two minutes remaining (66-65) before Beeninga tacked on his 31^st and 32^nd points of the game to put MSUM up one. The Wildcats would respond with a free throw of their own to tie the contest at 67 with just over a minute remaining. Beeninga would get fouled on the ensuing Dragon possession, putting MSUM back up by a basket. The Wildcats drained their third three-pointer of the half after that to regain the lead 70-69.
 
The home team would lead by three points with just over 30 seconds left. MSUM would cut that to two points with 19 seconds remaining, but Beeninga would pick up his fifth foul following a missed free throw, which sent Northern Michigan to the line. Beeninga finished the contest just a point shy of his career-best (36) while attempting 16 three-point shots, the second-most in a single game in MSUM history (alongside Bobby Beck, 1995). The Wildcats missed the free throw which led to a Gabe Myren miss to tie the game with nine seconds remaining. 
 
Ja'Kair Sanchez would grab the rebound on the miss and get fouled as he would head to the line with the opportunity to tie. Sanchez buried both foul shots to even the score at 72 points. Northern Michigan missed a shot attempt as time expired as the game would go into overtime. 
 
In the extra session, MSUM would jump in front by four thanks to scores from Sanchez and Jamir Price. Midway through the five-minute period, the Dragons led 76-74. Northern Michigan would pull even at 76 before Logan Kinsey gave MSUM the lead again with just under 90 seconds left. 
 
As the Wildcats called a timeout to draw up a potential tying play, Sanchez was able to diagnose the scheme out of the breather and get a steal with under a minute left. Price would score on the next possession to put MSUM up by four again. While Northern Michigan would hit a three to pull within one, Price and Sanchez nailed the pressure free throws needed for the Dragons to hang on. Price scored six of his eight points in overtime to propel the Dragons to an 83-79 win. 

In the win, Dane Zimmer collected his 800th career rebound, becoming just the fourth player in program history to eclipse the milestone. 
 
Top Dragons

• Jacob Beeninga: 35 points, 7-16 3P
• Dane Zimmer: 11 points, 11 rebounds, two steals
• Gabe Myren: Nine points, 11 rebounds, five steals
• Ja'Kair Sanchez: 12 points, four rebounds

Up Next
 
The Dragons (5-0) will now make the 100-mile drive to Houghton, Mich., for a noon game against Michigan Tech tomorrow afternoon.