GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Nick Fuher (Grand Forks, N.D.) scored a pair of goals, including the game winner late in the third period, as the No. 8 North Dakota men's hockey team topped Minnesota State 3-2 Friday at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The teams traded power play goals back-and-forth before Fuher's clinched UND's 14th victory of the season. The Sioux are 14-7-2 overall and 10-6-1 in the WCHA.

Rastislav Spirko (Vrutky, Slovakia) scored on a slap shot from the far circle 14:40 into the first period to give the Sioux the lead, 1-0. Rory McMahon (Purdue, Sask.) and Matt Jones (Lisle, Ill.) collected assists on the play.

The Mavericks scored quickly in the second on a power play to tie the game at 1-1. The Sioux answered back as Fuher scored on a slapshot at 6:55. Colby Genoway (Morden, Man.) and Drew Stafford both tallied assists on the goal.

MSU was able to tie the game at 2-2 with under seven minutes left in the second as Steven Johns solved goaltender Philippe Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) for the Mavs' second power play goal of the evening.

Late in the third, Fuher scored his second goal of the night to give UND its first victory of 2005. Stafford collected his second assist of the evening, while Travis Zajac (Winnipeg, Man.) was credited with his first.

Lamoureux won his seventh game of the year with 19 saves.

Fuher scored his second and third goals of the season, as he continues to be the leading defensive scorer for UND with 12 points.

Stafford returned to the Sioux after playing for Team USA in the World Juniors Tournament for the past week and a half, collecting two assists on the night.

The Sioux face the MSU again on Saturday at Ralph Engelstad Arena at 7:05 p.m.