MINOT, N.D. – Despite 21 points from junior forward Teathloach Pal, the University of Sioux Falls Men’s Basketball Team (14-4, 10-2 NSIC) drop a heartbreaker at Minot State (7-11, 1-11), 69-66 in Northern Sun Conference cross division play at the Minot Dome on Saturday (Jan. 18).In a game with 22 lead changes, the Cougars had a seven-game winning streak end but remained tied for the overall NSIC lead (Northern State, 14-4, 10-2, North Division leaders) at 10-2. With the setback, USF drops to 14-4 overall, which is still the program’s top mark through 18 games while in NCAA DII. USF, which will host Upper Iowa (Friday, Jan. 24, 7:30 pm) and Winona State (Saturday, Jan. 25, 5:30 pm) next weekend at the Stewart Center, lead the NSIC South by two games.USF, which trailed by seven (26-19) in the first half, took a 52-46 lead with 10:22 to play. However, Max Cody, who had 11 points for MiSU, made a pair of jumpers late in the game, including a jumper a minute to go to help the Beavers to a 66-63 lead. USF tied the game on a lay-up by Trevon Adams with 30 seconds left. With nine seconds to go Sam Ohlrich hit a game-winning three-pointer. “It was a heart-breaker no doubt,” said USF Head Coach Chris Johnson. “We battled all night but didn’t seem to find any sustained offensive momentum. Give Minot State credit, they kept finding a way to battle back and take the lead late in the game. We will learn from this and get back to work next week for a couple of tough NSIC games next weekend,” said Johnson.
USF lost for just the second time in 13 games when leading at the break. They held a 37-35 halftime margin but was outscored 34-29 in the second half.
Dan Genzler contributed to this report.
