MOORHEAD, Minn. – MSU Moorhead men's basketball was entrenched in another nailbiter Thursday evening inside Nemzek Fieldhouse. Guard
Ja'Kair Sanchez connected on a three-pointer with 0.06 remaining to guide the Dragons over 15th-ranked Minot State, 81-79.
Sanchez scored a game-high 26 points for MSUM, who moved to 20-3 overall with a 14-3 NSIC mark.
The Beavers would control much of the offense through the first 10 minutes as Minot State raced out to an 18-11 lead. Minot State would connect on 46.7 percent from the floor in the first 10 minutes. Adversely, MSUM would continue to struggle from the floor, making just three of 15 attempts in the same stretch along with three missed three-pointers. Minot State would hold a 10-point lead midway through the first half.
MSUM would answer down the stretch in the first half, evening the game at 20 points each.
Ja'Kair Sanchez led the Dragons with nine points while a returning
JaMir Price poured in five points to help provide MSUM some offense. The scoring stretch helped MSUM build a lead as large as four points late in the half before the Beavers pulled to within one point at the break. The Dragons led 31-30 through one half, led by a combined 18 points (nine each) from Sanchez and Price. MSUM would up its field goal percentage to 40 percent before the intermission.
It was the Dragons that came out of the halftime locker room with some offensive aggressiveness.
Logan Kinsey would own the first five minutes of play, scoring eight points in the stretch as well as snarfing up some valuable offensive rebounds. The Dragons owned the glass throughout the contest, holding a plus-13 (41-28) advantage to go along with 21 second chance points by game's end. Kinsey's flurry helped MSUM build a 10-point lead early in the second half.
From there, Minot State would showcase just how good of a team they are, storming back to claim a one-point lead (59-58) halfway through the final half. The Beavers would open up the second half making 62.5 percent of their shot attempts to pull back into the game. Minot State would continue that hot shooting as the half wore on, building a 70-67 lead with under five minutes remaining. The visitors were shooting 61.9 percent from the floor and 71.4 percent from deep to that point in the half.
In the final five minutes of play, both teams would trade punches back and forth with neither team holding a large advantage. Both teams utilized the double bonus in an attempt to put some easy points on the scoreboard. Trailing 71-69,
Dane Zimmer converted on an and-one to give the Dragons a 72-71 lead with just over four minutes to go. Minot State would stretch a lead out to three points shortly thereafter. Sanchez scored back-to-back layups with under two minutes to go to put MSUM back in front, 78-77.
With 48 seconds left, Minot State held a 79-78 lead and held possession as well. MSUM would force a timely turnover on defense to get the ball back with eight seconds left on the clock.
Jacob Beeninga caught the inbounds pass and raced upcourt, handing it off to Price. Price would dribble to his left and see a wide open Sanchez who stood just beyond the three-point arc. Price made a perfect pass to Sanchez who casted a shot in rhythm with the clock waning.
The three-pointer found all net with only 0.06 remaining, sending the Dragon fans in attendance into a frenzy. The Beavers would have one more shot as they would connect on a three-pointer, but the shot was attempted after the final horn. MSUM held on behind Sanchez's massive shot, 81-79. Over the last four games, Sanchez has averaged 23.2 points per game for the Dragons.
Top Dragons
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
The Dragons are now 20-3 for the season and 20-3 against Minot State since the 2011-12 season.
Up Next
The Dragons (20-3, 14-3 NSIC) travel to Bismarck, N.D., for a game with the University of Mary which begins 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
