WINONA, Minn. – Minot State University did not look like the second-to-last scoring offense in the NSIC Friday night inside McCown Gymnasium where the Beavers shot a blistering 64 percent from the field en route to an 87-72 victory over Winona State University. The Beavers also shot 50 percent from beyond the arc while surpassing their season scoring average by 15 points against a traditionally stout Warrior defense.

After being gouged for at least 80 points for the second straight game, Winona State falls to 10-13 (7-10 NSIC) while Minot State improves to 11-15 (6-11 NSIC) with just its second road win of the year.

The Warriors opened up a 7-0 advantage after tip off, but the home team's lead was gone in the blink of an eye following a Beaver timeout at the 18:01 mark of the first half. Minot State answered with a 17-2 run over the next five minutes of play. WSU began to erase an eight-point deficit at the 7:50 mark when Caleb Wagner drilled a three-pointer. Kevion Taylor connected on a triple of his own and two possessions later, Mason Domask sank one from downtown to give the Warriors a 30-29 edge with 6:06 left in the frame.

The teams continued to trade baskets as both sides shot over 50 percent in the first half of action, but Domask's bucket stood as the final Winona State lead of the game.

Minot led by double digits for the better part of the second half as the Warrior defense was unable to make a series of stops to allow the offense to get back into the game. Offensively, Winona State slowed to a 39 percent clip in the second half as the Beavers continued to torch the nets.

Entering the game as one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, Minot State hit big shots from downtown all night when David Akibo wasn't owning the lane. The Beaver center recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds as the visiting team gashed WSU for 50 points in the paint. The Beavers also owned a 34-22 rebounding edge while out-muscling the Warriors in the post.

Wagner paced Winona State with 20 points, followed by Taylor with 17. Devin Whitelow and Tommy Gathje scored 10 apiece.

The Warriors will look to salvage a weekend split against UMary on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m.