MOORHEAD, Minn. (Alex Nemcek Hall) - The Bemidji
State University men’s basketball team kept the game close early
but a 37-21 run to close out the game by Minnesota State University
Moorhead put the game out of reach as the Dragons went on to take a
70-55 conference victory over BSU.
In the
early goings the Beavers and Dragons traded hoops as the largest lead
by either team in the first seven minutes was four points by Bemidji
State. A three-pointer by Arron Evans (Sr., G,
Minneapolis, Minn.) gave the Beavers a 11-7 lead with 12:50 left in the
half. Minnesota State University Moorhead closed out the half and built
a eight point lead, 31-23 its largest lead of the game heading into the
half. The 23 point first half was the second lowest point total in the
first half the Beavers have garnered this season.
The
second half started with the Beavers going on an 11-2 run to capture
the lead for the first time since 11:56 of the first half on one Evans
two three point shots. Evans three-pointer gave the Beavers a 34-33
advantage with 15:39 remaining on the clock. The Dragons Ryan Rozell
tied the game at 36-36 for the fourth and final time in the contest at
13:17 and then hit his second free throw to give the Dragons a 37-36
lead for good.
The Dragons pushed its lead
to 15 points on a 16-0 run over a 6;54 second span. The Dragons pushed
its lead to as large as 20 points and the deficit was to much for the
Beavers to comeback from as MSUM sealed the victory, 70-55.
BSU’s Seth Haake
(So., G, Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Evans helped keep the Beavers in
striking distance in the second half scoring, seven and eight points,
respectively. Evans and Haake were the lone Beavers to score in
double-figures as Haake netted 12 points on 4-of-11 from the field and
2-of-6 from behind the arc. Evans chipped in with 11 points on 2-of-9
from the field and 2-of-5 from three point range. Haake led the Beavers
with five rebounds and five assists on the night.
The
balanced scoring for the Dragons was led by Ryan Rozell who had a
game-high 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting, 4-of-5 from behind the arc.
Blake Strouth ended the evening with 17 points for the Dragons while
Kyle Nelson added 12 points and Justyn Burgess chipped in with 11
points to round out the double-figure scoring for MSUM.
BSU’s
offense made just 20 of 52 (.385) from the field to the Dragons 27 of
58 (.466). The Dragons out rebounded the Beavers 36-to-34 in the game
and outscored BSU 36-to-22 in the paint. The Dragons also used a 11
point advantage on points off turnovers to help seal the victory.
Bemidji
State (3-6, 1-2 NSIC) falls to 78-81 in the all-time series versus the
Dragons and are currently on a four game skid versus Minnesota State
University Moorhead.
Bemidji State will
travel to St. Paul, Minn. to try and stop a two game slide versus the
Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears tomorrow evening from the Gangelhoff
Center. The tip is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA
Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun
Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
--beavers--
