GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- Minnesota State forward David Backes scored with 3.8 seconds to play to lead the Mavericks to a 4-3 win over the eighth-ranked Fighting Sioux men's hockey team on Saturday, allowing MSU to gain a split in the series.
It was the second of two goals in the game for Backes, who helped MSU improve its record to 8-11-3 overall and 5-10-1 in the WCHA. UND fell to 14-8-2 overall and 10-7-1 in the league.
The Sioux opened the scoring as Brady Murray (So., Brandon, Manitoba) scored an unassisted goal 2:37 into the game. It was his sixth of the year.
MSU tied it on a power play goal by Jeff Marler at 11:49 nearly tied it 30 seconds later but Sioux goalie Jordan Parise (So., Faribault, Minn.) stymied Backes on a breakaway while the Mavericks were shorthanded. Parise stopped 19 shots on the night.
The first period ended with the score tied, 1-1, and the second period was scoreless until Backes tipped in a Steven Johns shot from the point at 13:40 to make it 2-1, MSU.
UND's Rastislav Spirko (Fr., Vrutky, Slovakia) tied it just over two minutes later, swatting in a rebound of a Matt Jones (Sr., Lisle, Ill.) shot from the point at 15:41. It was Spirko's second goal in as many nights and sixth of the season.
Minnesota State regained the lead (3-2) 1:40 into the third when a Parise pass attempt was picked off by Brad Thompson, who fired it into an open UND net.
UND trailed until Drew Stafford (So., Faribault, Minn.) one-timed a Colby Genoway (Sr., Morden, Manitoba) pass by MSU goalie Jon Volp at 13:59 while the Sioux were on the power play. It was UND's second power play goal in eight attempts. Minnesota State converted on two of seven power plays.
Backes scored the game winner on a similar goal to Stafford's, taking a pass from Brock Becker at the right of the goal and firing it past Parise before he had a chance to react.
It was UND's first loss to Minnesota State in their last six games against MSU, and the Mavericks upped their mark at the new Ralph Engelstad Arena to 3-2-1.
NOTES: Genoway's assist gave him a team-leading 25 points (5g, 20a) on the season.
