Carney Mister clutch for Minot State

Minot State University senior Mister Carney (G, Tulsa, Okla.) scored 30 points in his best game in a month to lead the No. 23 Beavers to a 93-87 win over Mayville State in Dakota Athletic Conference men’s  basketball action Friday at the MSU Dome.

“I thought he was real solid in all phases of the game,” said MSU head coach Mike Hultz. “He was good on offense and made some key defensive stops for us late. His mom was here to watch him play and I’m real happy for him.”

Carney hit 8 of 15 from the floor and went 13 of 16 from the free throw line en route to the 30 points. He also finished with six steals and five rebounds in 26 minutes.

While Carney was steady all night, the Beavers (6-4 DAC, 17-7 overall) got a big boost from their big man Shaun Johnson (F, Sr., East Orange, N.J.) late in the game. Johnson recorded his fourth straight double-double, knocking down 19 points and finishing with a team-high 13 rebounds. He also had two blocked shots and a steal as the Beavers swiped the ball 16 times from Mayville State.

“Shaun was good down the stretch,” Hultz said. “He has been good for us for quite a while now. It seems like when we are able to bust something good, it is because of an offensive rebound by Shaun.”

The Comets (1-8, 9-14) led 50-48 at halftime and weathered an early MSU run in the second half to lead midway through the second half. But the Beavers didn’t go away in the second as they had on the road last week. Instead, MSU fought back to take a 78-73 lead on a Johnson offensive rebound putback with 6:55 to play.

Mayville stormed back to tie the game at 78.

The second MSU’s push wasn’t matched. Carney broke the tie with two free throws and Johnson gave the Beavers a four-point lead after Neil Packineau (G, Jr., Parshall, N.D.). Carney then drew a charge on Mayville’s ensuing possession and Johnson scored again on a feed from Packineau to give MSU a cushion.

“I think our guys are in a better state of mind,” Hultz said. “The tank isn’t totally full, but we showed some fight tonight.”

Ross Aman was nearly impossible to stop for Mayville State as he scored 29 points on 13 of 15 shooting. Micah Berge added 17, Anton Coleman scored 14 and Alfonzo McNeal added 13 for the Comets.

Nick Turner (G, Jr., Los Angeles) and Nathaniel Packineau (G, Jr., Parshall, N.D.) each scored 14 for MSU. Jason West (G, Jr., Lompoc, Calif.) finished with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Beavers.