Late Minot State basket stuns Jimmies 85-84 in final home game

Minot State guard Benjamin finished a comeback with a drive through the paint and a go-ahead layup with eight seconds left, handing the University of Jamestown an 85-84 loss at Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown. The game capped Jamestown’s final home game of the season and ended in gut-wrenching fashion for the Jimmies.

The loss dropped Jamestown to 13-14 overall and 11-10 in NSIC play; Minot State improved to 12-15 overall and 9-12 in conference games. The Jimmies are scheduled next to face the University of Mary in Jamestown, per the team’s next-game listing.

Jamestown led by 10-plus in the first half and went into the break ahead 46-36. Senior guard Anthony Walters paced the Jimmies, finishing with a season-high 32 points and energizing the crowd in the second half. “With 16:15 left in the second half, Walters stole an MSU pass and took the ball coast to coast for the two-handed slam that got everyone at Harold Newman Arena on their feet. The dunk gave the Jimmies a 57-42 15-point lead.”

Minot State answered with an extraordinary offensive surge. The Beavers closed the gap with a 12-0 run and, over the first 15 minutes of the second half, shot 16-for-17 while drilling 7-for-7 from three to tie the game at 77. Minot finished the period shooting 19-of-22 (86.36%) from the field in the second half and remained perfect from deep, 7-of-7 in the half, to erase Jamestown’s cushion and win the second half 49-38.

The final two minutes featured a string of clutch plays. With 1:54 remaining and Jamestown down four, guard Zeke Austin hit a deep step-back three to pull the Jimmies within one. With 40 seconds on the clock, senior forward Owen Hektner blocked an MSU attempt by guard Darik Dissette to keep Jamestown within reach. Out of a Jimmies timeout, Walters converted a layup with 18 seconds left to put Jamestown ahead 84-83. Minot State countered when Benjamin drove the lane and finished with eight seconds remaining for the decisive basket and an 85-84 final.

UJ head coach Casey Bruggeman reflected on the finish: “Credit to Minot State for pulling it out. Our guys played very well the entirety of the game, and I'm very proud of this group.” The Jamestown Sun noted the comeback’s jaw-dropping quality: “Minot is called the Magic City for a reason, as the Beavers magically made a 15-point UJ lead disappear.”