FARGO (AP) - A former Minnesota State University Moorhead basketball player accused of shooting his friend to death after a game of dice says the gun "just went off" as the two struggled.

Deandre Buchanan is charged with Class AA felony murder in the June 17 shooting death of Jeremy Cook, 24, of Fargo. Buchanan testified Friday in his own defense, saying the shooting was an accident.

Closing arguments in the case are set for Monday.

Buchanan said he was struggling with Cook and was trying to leave the apartment when Cook was shot.

"It just went off," he said. "The gun went off."

Cook was shot in the chest at around 8:15 a.m. at his Fargo apartment, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m. at a Fargo hospital.

Buchanan testified Friday that Cook was "clawing" at him and trying to get back a gun that Cook had wagered and lost during a dice game that morning.

"He wasn't just asking for it, he was reaching for, trying to take it away from me," Buchanan said.

Jurors were shown the white T-shirt Buchanan was wearing, which was torn at the collar and about the neck.

Buchanan said Cook ripped the shirt and he later realized Cook scratched him on his hands and around his collar and shoulder. Photos of the scratches were also entered into evidence.

Buchanan said Cook told him to leave but then rushed at him before he could, pinning him up against the door.

"I really never got a chance to get away from him," he said.

Buchanan testified he was holding the gun in his right hand after taking it out of his "pocket so that (Cook) couldn't get to it."

He said he was trying to hold Cook off with his left hand and holding the gun in his right hand, "constantly telling him 'get back,' 'get away from me,'" and trying to calm Cook down.

Buchanan said he never told Cook he was going to shoot him, contradicting the testimony of Amber Wilson, who was at the apartment when the shooting took place.