SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Sioux Falls Arena) -- With just one second remaining in regulation and the score tied at 70, Northern State University junior guard Mitch Boeck dropped in a three as the clock struck zero to down Bemidji State University, 73-70, in the final round of the 2008 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) HoopsFest at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The foul-plagued Beavers squandered away a eight-point lead with 4:49 left in a game that saw 10 lead changes and nine ties.

Kyle Schwan got NSU on the board first off a layup at 19:35 but a pair of free-throw by Taylor Hall (Fr., F, Blaine, Minn.) tied the score at 2-2 just 40-seconds into the game. A three-pointer by Zach Eastman (So., PG, Chaska, Minn.) gave BSU its first lead of the game (7-6) at 18:02 but it did not last long as a pair of free-throw by Brett Newton put NSU up 8-7 which started a 5-0 run helping the Wolves push their lead to 11-7.

BSU battled back and took a 14-11 lead as a layup by Bryce Tesdahl (Fr., G, Crosby, Minn.) capped off a 7-0 run by the Beavers. The half of runs continued as NSU answered netting 11 of the next 13 points to go up six (22-16) with 11:42 left in the half. Eastman’s second three of the game put BSU up 23-22 but Northern State closed out the half out scoring BSU 21-16 in the final 10:21 taking a 43-39 lead into the break.

NSU came out of the break pushing its lead to eight points (49-41) off a layup by 2008-09 NSIC Pre-Season Player of the Year Kevin Ratzch just 1:14 into the half. BSU closed the gap and took the lead at 54-53 off a 13-4 run led by junior guard Seth Haake (Eden Prairie, Minn.) who netted nine of the Beavers 13 points during the run.

The Beavers continued to dominate as they extended their lead to eight points (70-62) over a span of 9:19. BSU would not score another point in the final 4:49 as the Beavers offense went cold going 0-for-7 in the final minutes of the game giving NSU opportunities to climb back into the game which the Wolves took advantage of.

NSU scored the final 11 points of the game, with two coming from the line. Boeck’s game-winner with just one second remaining gave Northern State the 73-70 victory.

The Beavers had two opportunities in the final :43 seconds to take the lead as the score was tied at 70 but a missed layup by Haake and a missed three-pointer by Eastman with three seconds left gave NSU the opportunity for the game winning shot.

BSU was led by junior guard Seth Haake (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and freshman guard Bryce Tesdahl (Crosby, Minn.) who netted 14 points apiece. Haake garnered his fourteen points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line while Tesdahl’s career-high came on 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. Two other BSU players managed double-figure scoring totals with Eastman collecting 11 points while Sergej Baskow (Jr., F, Ludwigsburg, Germany) posted 10 points.

Tesdahl led BSU on the glass collecting a career-high nine rebounds while posting a career-high five assists.

Robert Thomas led the Wolves with a game-high 28 points and 14 rebounds for the games lone double-double performance. Kevin Ratzch added 17 while Kyle Schwan pitched in 11. BSU out rebounded the Wolves 35-31 in the game.

The Beavers were whistled for 23 fouls putting Northern State on the line 29 times while BSU shot 26 freebies. With four players finishing the game with four fouls, BSU gave up seven valuable points on the line (24-17) possibly costing the team the game.

The loss drops BSU to 20-51 all-time versus the Wolves and extends BSU’s losing streak to six games versus NSU.

Bemidji State falls to 0-4 overall while Northern State improves to 6-0 on the year. The Beavers return home for a week to prepare for their 2008-09 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener Dec. 5 at MSU Moorhead and Dec. 6 at Minnesota, Crookston. Both games are set for 8 p.m. starts with Friday’s game at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn. and Saturday’s game taking place at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--beavers--