First-half numbers:

• MSU: Witwer, 10 pts, Patterson, 11, 11 rebounds; DeWitty 10
• Winnipeg: Mike James, 16; Nasajpour, nine
• Winnipeg 32.8% FG, MSU 40.8%
• Rebounds: 49-41 MSU
• Turnovers: 22-15 Winnipeg

7:25 — It’s all over but the crying. MSU 77, Winnipeg 53. Minot will be in tomorrow’s final against the Brock-Calgary winner. See you in a bit for the second semifinal.

7:21 — We’re far separated from halftime, I know, but here’s an interesting stat from the first half: Opalko, Shynkaryk, Lother combined for a grand total of zero points and an oh-for-9 effort from the field. The second half hasn’t changed much. Opalko and Lother both have a lay-up each. James, however, continues to impress knocking down another FG.

7:17 — This has gotten very ugly. I assumed Minot would win this game, but not like this. James just hit a lay-up but that followed another MSU three and the score is 72-41 with 4:34 to go.

7:16 — Just been made aware that the university is webcasting the games from the gym. I’m assuming that trumps my random and non-sensical blogs. But hey, a webcast doesn’t provide you with my endearing wit does it? I feel small now.

7:09 — 59-37 at the end of three and time to assess the wardrobe situation among the coaches. While Dave Crook is long known to be a more adventurous dresser, it’s Minot that is mind-boggling right now. Assistants are wearing, from right to left, black shirt with hot pink tie; baby blue shirt with white collar and white tie and white pants, and green shirt with striped green tie (not out of line considering MSU’s colours). Crook, by the way, is rocking the black suit and has on a throwback white tie with red stripes and what appear to be Converse dress shoes (if such a thing exists, I have no idea) that actually match the tie quite well. Not a bad effort overall.

7:02 — Winnipeg calls timeout down 52-31 with 4 to go in the third. The Wesmen had it down to 10 points but there’s been a few times tonight where you’re looking at the team on the floor and wondering who’s going to score the ball. Mike James has given them solid minutes off the bench but there’s been a solid collection of poor shots and bad execution otherwise.

Side Note: No surprise, but Ross Bekkering has advanced to tomorrow’s dunk final along with Owen White. We will attempt to have video of the next round of dunks later in the night as well as tomorrow’s final. Here’s hoping.

6:57 — Erf just picked up his fourth foul less than three minutes into the third quarter. 47-31 MSU with 6:32 left.

First-half numbers:

• MSU: Witwer, 10 pts, Patterson, nine
• Winnipeg: Nasajpour, nine points, Mike James, eight.
• Winnipeg 31% FG, MSU 41%
• Rebounds: 27-19 MSU
• Turnovers: 10-7 Winnipeg
• Foul trouble: Winnipeg, Nasajpour (3); James (3); MSU, None

Halftime: MSU 40 Wesmen 25

6:18 — Coming to the quarter break now with MSU opening a 19-10 lead after one. While we have this stoppage, let’s update you on who is going to be in the dunk competition at halftime.

• Brock: Owen White (6-7, Sr, Port Hope, ON)
• Brandon: Martin Lawrence (6-7, Jr, Toronto)
• Calgary: Ross Bekkering (6-8, Jr, Taber, Alta.)
• Acadia: Andrew Kraus (6-2, So, Markham, Ont.)

6:15 — Winnipeg is defending better in the halfcourt now and has cut this thing to 15-10 with 2 to go in the first. MSU struggling to get good looks and using a lot of shot clock, although not by their plan.

6:08 — Opalko gets beat badly off the dribble by Ford on the perimeter for a lay-up but Erf (I don’t want to type Nasajpour all night), drops a three on the other end. 14-6 MSU.

6:07 — DeWitty another three as the shot clock winds down from about 22 feet with a man in his face. 12-3.

6:06 — An early 9-3 MSU lead on back to back threes from Witwer and DeWitty. Beavers pushing the tempo and its not a pace Winnipeg appears too comfortable with.

6:04 — Witwer gets us started with the first field goal of the game. The Wesmen come in playing man-to-man, which they didn’t against RMC on Friday. The worry I brought up earlier today to a coach was that the Wesmen would have to quickly transition from a game that they basically could jog through, to a heightened level of play against a much more physical and talented Minot team. Essentially the Wesmen have to flip the switch and play a higher level of game after a sleepwalker a day before.

6:01 — Just getting the introductions done here prior to our first semifinal of the night. The Wesmen start Peter Lomuro, Dan Shynkaryk, Erfan Nasajpour, Nick Lother and Matt Opalko. Minot counters with Joe Gathings, Jessie Ford, Matt Witwer, Aaron Patterson and C.J. DeWitty.