BEMIDJI, Minn. -- On multiple occasions, the
Bemidji State University men’s basketball team was able to play
strong defense for the majority of a possession in the 67-65 loss to
Northern State University Friday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate
Conference game at the BSU Gymnasium. But on multiple occasions, NSU
was able to find a way to make a shot with just seconds left on the
shot clock. This was no different in the Wolves’ final
possession, as Mitch Boeck hit a game-winning shot with just 0.03
seconds left on the clock to give NSU its second conference win of the
season. BSU has now lost seven straight games and its last six in
conference play.
The Beavers (5-10, 2-7 NSIC) tied the game on a sophomore Bryce Tesdahl
(G, Crosby, MInn.) drive and lay-up with 24 seconds remaining, tying
the game for the 12th time. With the shot clock turned off, NSU had the
last chance to score and converted with just a mere snap of the fingers
left on the scoreboard. The Beavers put a solid game together, but
couldn’t find a way to be on the winning end of a hard fought
battle.
The Wolves (6-9, 2-6 NSIC) started
the game strong, owning a 20-13 lead after nine minutes of play. BSU
then put together a 7-0 run to tie the game 20-20, getting all the
scoring from three bench players. The game then became a see-saw
contest with the teams trading buckets through the half. NSU was on top
34-33 when the halftime buzzer sounded.
The
second half continued the back-and-forth play through the first six
minutes of the frame, as the score was knotted for the ninth time in
the game at 42-42. NSU scored with 13:51 remaining in the half to take
a two point lead that reached its peak at eight with 6:47 left, and a
score of 59-54. The Beavers then put together a 12-1 run to own a three
point advantage with 2:41 remaining. The run included five points from
freshman Lance Rongstad (G, Eleva, Wis.). A 3-point
play from NSU’s Jordan King tied the game at 63-63 with 2:21
remaining. The Wolves made it 65-63 with 1:26 left and had a chance to
make it a four-point game at the line after BSU missed a 3-point
attempt and fouled on the NSU possession. Fortunately for the home
team, the Wolves missed both free throws and that set-up
Tesdahl’s drive and bucket.
Senior Seth Haake
(G, Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the Beavers in scoring with 18 points and
in rebounding with six. He also added four steals and three assists.
Rongstad had 13 points three rebounds and three assists. Tesdahl also
scored in double-figures with 11 on 5-of-8 shooting and five rebounds.
NSU shot 51 percent from the field, which included 59.1 percent in the
second half. BSU shot 40.4 percent from the field and 29.4 from beyond
the arc, while the Wolves were 6-of-15 (40%) from downtown. The Beavers
are a 77 percent shooting team from the line this season that ranks
them first in the conference and seventh in the nation in that
category, but BSU only went 14-of-19 (73.7%) from the line in the game.
BSU hosts University of Mary to complete the NSIC weekend Jan. 16 at 8 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).
--bsu--