Like the moth to the candle, Wednesday's D-League game with Idaho came to the Dakota Wizards' Renaldo Major.

After scoring just eight points in the first three periods, Major, a 6-foot-7 forward, scored eight points in the final two minutes. More importantly, Major was Johnny-on-the-spot as the Wizards turned the corner for a 119-111 victory over Idaho at the Civic Center.

The victory over the Stampede, which had the third-best record in the D-League, gave the Wizards a big boost in their quest for a playoff berth.

Major had scored a modest eight points when he stepped into the gap with the game hanging in the balance.

Dakota had a 104-103 lead when Major pulled down an offensive rebound and was fouled. His two free throws put the Wizards up 106-103 with 2:00 on the clock.

Major responded to a game-tying 3-pointer by LannySmith by driving the lane for a basket with 1:34 remaining. That put the Wizards up 108-106.

Richard Hendrix stripped Smith on a drive to the hole in Idaho's next possession. Major again drove the lane, this time drawing a foul. He sank both free throws to give the Wizards a 110-106 margin.

"Iknew that after I scored that first basket I wanted the ball," Major said. "… Iknew I had a first step over the big man (6-7 JasonEllis) and I wanted to utilize that. My teammates did a great job of clearing out for me."

Two more freebies by Maurice Baker gave the Wizards some breathing room at 112-106. Idaho came no closer than four points the rest of the way.

Major said he tries to be patient on offense.

"Defensively I try to push it to the limit. I want to be known as a good defensive player. Offensively I let the game come to me. … I try to feed off my teammates," he said.

It appeared the Wizards might put this one in the bank early. They never trailed in the game and built a fat 56-33 lead on back-to-back 3-pointers by Hendrix with 3:56 to play in the second period.

The visiting Stampede sprang to life after intermission. With 6-11 post Lance Allred hitting three shots from the perimeter and KevinBurleson swishing a pair of 3-pointers, Idaho took off on a 19-5 run. That reduced the Wizards' advantage to 67-62. The hosts didn't have a comfortable lead the rest of the way.

Idaho tied the game at 97, 99, 101 and 106 as they doggedly fought to overtake the Wizards, but never got over the hump. Each time Dakota answered -on baskets by Hendrix, David Monds, Blake Ahearn and Major.

Major said defense down the stretch - Idaho scored just eight points in its final 10 possessions - was the difference in the game.

"We limited them to one shot at the end of the game. That's how we clung to that lead," he said.

Wizards coach Duane Ticknor said he liked the backbone the Wizards showed when the Stampede came calling.

"The thing I was really proud of is our team hung in there. … We answered when it really counted," Ticknor said.

Ticknor pointed out contributions of practically everyone who played. And everyone had to contribute. After waiving Will Frisby and losing Romel Beck to a strained neck muscle, the Wizards used just seven players onWednesday.

"This is a huge win for us,"Ticknor said. "We can't let down when we get to Fort Worth."

The Wizards, 25-21, have four regular-season games remaining. They play Friday at Fort Wayne (17-29) and also visit Iowa (26-19). They meet Sioux Falls (24-22) and Anaheim (15-31) at home.

Wednesday's win, coupled with Iowa's 130-124 to Los Angeles, leaves the Wizards just a game and a half out of first place in the Central Division.

As far as Ticknor is concerned, the Wizards are already playing playoff basketball.

"Every game you play the last two weeks of the season is a playoff game," he said. "…The last two games we've beaten Austin, which has the second-best record in the league and Idaho, which has the third-best."

That being the case, Major said holding off Idaho was huge.

"We knew they were going to fight back,"Major said. "… Losing this would have been demoralizing. We still have more games to play but losing this would have been tough."

Allred hit 12 of 16 shots, most of them from the perimeter, to lead Idaho with 25 points. Five other players reached double figures.

Hendrix, a 6-9 forward, scored 21 points in the first half and finished with 27 to match Ahearn for game scoring honors. Hendrix also pulled down 12 rebounds. All five Dakota starters scored 16 points or more.

n NOTES:Frisby has been absent from the team since Friday in order to be with his wife, who is expecting their third child soon. The Wizards plan to return him to the roster by the end of the regular season in order to preserve his playoff eligibility.

Idaho 19 43 82 111

Wizards 34 60 88 119

IDAHO(111):Brent Petway 2-4 0-0 4, Mohammed Abukar 3-9 0-0 6, Lance Allred 12-16 1-2 25, JasonEllis 2-4 3-3 7, Kevin Burleson 5-13 0-0 14, Jamaal Tatum 6-15 5-6 18, LannySmith 3-6 4-4 11, MildonAmbres 6-11 3-4 15, Roberto Bergersen 4-7 1-2 11. Totals: 43-85 17-21 111.

WIZARDS (119):Richard Hendrix 10-16 4-6 27, Renaldo Major 4-8 8-8 16, David Monds 8-18 0-0 16, Blake Ahearn 7-17 10-10 27, Maurice Baker 5-11 8-9 18, Jesse Smith 2-4 2-2 6, David Bell 3-7 0-0 9. Totals: 39-81 32-35 119.

3-pointers:I 8-26 (Burleson 4-9, Bergersen 2-4, Tatum 1-4, Smith 1-3, Petway 0-1, Abukar 0-4, Ambres 0-1), W 9-16 (Hendrix 3-4, Bell 3-5, Ahearn 3-6, Major 0-1).Rebounds:I37 (Ambres 9, Allred 7), W46 (Hendrix 12, Monds 11, Baker 9). Fouls:I 25, W 18. Fouled out:None. Technical fouls: I 2 (Petway, Petway), W 1 (defensive 3-second). Assists:I25 (Tatum 9), W 20 (Major 6). Turnovers:I11, W 12. Blocked shots:I1, W 4 (Hendrix 2). Steals:I6, W 8.

A:1,951.

Records:Idaho 28-18, Wizards 25-21.