Minot State forward Shaun Johnson

Beavers thwart Blue Hawks’ final play, survive scare

MINOT, N.D. – The No. 19 ranked Minot State University men’s basketball team needed a big deflection from forward Shaun Johnson (Sr., East Orange, N.J.) in the final seconds to hold off Dickinson State 76-75 in Dakota Athletic Conference play Thursday at the MSU Dome.

The Beavers (14-5 overall, 3-2 DAC) appeared to have a chance to make it a three point game, but the MSU’s Mister Carney (G, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.) was called for traveling instead of going to the line with 3.9 seconds to play. Dickinson State ran an inbounds play and it looked like the Blue Hawks were attempting a pass when Johnson deflected the ball high into the air as time ran out.

“I thought we made the play to get ourselves to the foul line with 3.9, but it didn’t go our way. We thought it would get to one of the Lebsocks (Brian or Nathan),” said MSU head coach Mike Hultz. “I don’t know if it was a pass or shot, but we got a big deflection.”

The Beavers and Blue Hawks each played well in spurts. MSU built an eight-point halftime lead at 35-27, thanks in part to a personal four-point run by Nathaniel Packineau (G, Jr., Parshall, N.D.) late in the half and a big offensive rebound dunk by Marcus Balinton (F, Jr., San Francisco) just before halftime.

“We were as good as we have been all year in the first half on defense, but the offense was up and down,” Hultz said. “We played in spurts in the second.”

But Dickinson (8-10, 3-2) hung around mainly due to the Lebsocks. Nathan Lebsock led all scorers with 25 points, including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers and 6 of 6 free throws. Brian Lebsock added 14 as did Matthew Lee and Joshua Henry scored 13 as DSU had four in double figures.

MSU had solid balance and went to a smaller line up late that paid dividends. The Beavers got a big 3-pointer with 58 seconds remaining from Jason West (G, Jr., Lompoc, Calif.) on a feed from Carney.

Johnson finished with 16 points, five steals, five rebounds and a block to lead the Beavers. Nick Turner (G, Jr., Los Angeles) and West each scored 14, while West finished with eight assists to lead all players. Packineau added 12 points and three steals. Kenneth McCoy (F, Sr., Stuttgart, Ark.) finished with a game-high 12 rebounds and scored six points.