Minot State Overcomes Halftime Deficit to Edge Hawaii Pacific 71-70
Minot State erased an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat Hawaii Pacific 71-70 at McCabe Gym on Saturday in the semifinals of the Hawaii Tip-Off Classic. The Beavers, now 2-0, will advance to play in the tournament championship game on Sunday night at 11:30 p.m. Minot time.
The victory required a tactical shift after a sluggish opening frame. Hawaii Pacific controlled the tempo early, surging to a 42-31 advantage by the intermission. Out of the locker room, however, the Beavers managed to gain control and found an explosive offensive spark from their reserves.
Bench Production and Defensive Pressure Fuel the Second-Half Surge
Minot State’s bench proved to be the decisive factor, pouring in 50 points to fuel the comeback. Parker Falcon led all scorers with 17 points, while Jayse Boatwright chipped in 16 points, six rebounds, and two steals in a reserve role. The Beavers clawed back to take a 54-46 lead before ripping off a 10-0 run capped by a Falcon three-pointer, extending the advantage to 64-46 with 9:32 remaining. Though the Sharks narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, Minot State held on for the 71-70 win.
Defensively, the Beavers forced 14 turnovers while committing eight, converting those mistakes into nine points. Kiku Parker Jr. paced the disruption with three steals. On the glass, Minot State claimed a 41-37 rebounding edge, hauling in 15 offensive boards that translated into 15 crucial second-chance points, anchored by Ryan Erikson’s four offensive rebounds and Loic Affoumon’s game-high nine total boards.
Championship Implications in Honolulu
The dramatic one-point finish highlighted how little margin the Beavers had to spare. Minot State now turns its attention to the tournament title game on Sunday night against the winner of the other semifinal matchup between Lake Erie and Tampa. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Minot time.
