CROOKSTON, Minn. (Lysaker Gymnasium) -- Bemidji State University center Jimmy Johnson (So., Andover, Minn.) come off the bench and posted a career-high 16 points including four rebounds to help lead the Beavers to their first win of the 2008-09 season, 67-57 over Minnesota, Crookston at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn.

In an evenly matched game the key stat was shooting as BSU out shot the Golden Eagles 40.4 percent (19-47) to just 32.1 percent (17-53) from the field for UMC. The Beavers shot a season low 23.1 percent (3-13) from behind the arc but held the Golden Eagles to 13.3 percent (2-15) from three-point land, which was the lowest percentage by a BSU opponent this season.

Johnson led the team offensively posing a career-high 16 points while pulling down four rebounds and garnering a team-high two blocks. Jake Lindstrom (Fr., G, Cottage Grove, Minn.) chipped in a season-high 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting while Brady Fairbanks (So., F, Bena, Minn.) and Sergej Baskow (Jr., C, Ludwigsburg, Germany) garnered 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Seth Haake (Jr., G, Eden Prairie, Minn.) and James Gibson (Sr., G, Miami, Fla.) each hauled in a career-high eight rebounds.

The Golden Eagles were led by Adam Hendricks who scored a game-high 16 points including 5-of-9 from the field. Derik Hawkey recorded 11 points while Delano Robinson and Matt Pelzer had seven points each. Nic Schulwitz had a game-high 11 rebounds for UMC.

From the opening tip BSU quickly asserted itself as Baskow and Johnosn gave BSU a 4-3 lead 3:47 into the game.

The Beavers would extend that lead to as large as nine points in the first half at 15-6 with 12:37 to go in the half on a pair of free-throws by Lindstrom, but the Beavers were only able to manage just four field goals during the final 12:37, and the Golden Eagles seized the opportunity, knocking down 9-of-13 from the field and 2-of-6 from the three point line to mount a 26-13 run to take a 32-28 lead into the halftime break.

UMC pushed its lead to eight points as the Golden Eagles scored the first four points of the half pushing their lead to 36-28. BSU went ona 9-0 run over the next 2:22 closing UMC’s lead to one at 36-35 capped off by a three point play by Haake. UMC pushed its lead back to five (42-37) but two free-throws by Lindstrom gave BSU a 44-43 lead with 7:48 remaining in the game. It was BSU’s first lead since 6:09 of the first half.

The teams traded baskets for the next 3:44 and with the score tied for the fifth time of the game at 55-55 with 4:04 left in the game, BSU went on a 12-2 run to close out the game earning its first victory of 2008-09, 67-57. Solid free-throw shooting by the Beavers down the stretch helped BSU solidify the win as they went 8-12 at the stripe down the stretch.

Bemidji State out rebounded the Golden Eagles 39-38 in the game and committed one more turnover, 12-11.

Bemidji State improves to 33-12 all-time versus the Golden Eagles and are know 4-1 all-time versus the Golden Eagles under the direction of Matt Bowen.

This is the second season in a row the Beavers have started the conference season 1-1.

Bemidji State (1-5; 1-1 NSIC) will be back in action next weekend as the Beavers will host Winona State on Friday (Dec. 12) and Upper Iowa on Saturday (Dec. 13) from the BSU Gymnasium. Both games are scheduled for 8 p.m. starts.

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

--beavers--