WINONA, Minn. - The Bemidji State University men’s basketball team fell to No. 17 Winona State University Friday 62-49 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game in Winona, Minn. Senior forward James Ellisor (Glendale, Ariz.) posted 19 points and 11 rebounds. BSU shot a season-worst 33.3 percent from the field to fall to 6-3 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC.
The Beavers opened a seven point lead at 20-13 with 8:20 remaining in the first half on 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions from junior guard Jason Edwards (Phoenix, Ariz.) and sophomore Jake Schalow (G, Kaukauna, Wis.). BSU held a matching seven point lead with four minutes left at 26-19, but the Warriors stormed back with a 7-2 run to close the half with the Beavers holding a two point advantage at 28-26 at the break. BSU shot 39.1 percent from the field, but was still shooting better than the Warriors as they were at 37.0 percent.
WSU opened the second half on a 5-0 run to take a lead of three at 31-28 1:22 into the frame. An Ellisor 3-pointer tied the game for the fifth time, but again the Warriors posted a run that saw the scoreboard tip back to their favor at 39-33 with 15:55 left in the half. Sophomore David Berthene (F, Lakeville, Minn.) knocked down a jumper to get the Beavers within one at 43-42 with 11:50 remaining, but then BSU went cold and only scored a point during the next 4:31 of game time and found itself down seven at 50-43. The Beavers got within one possession with 6:36 left and the score reading a deficit of three at 50-47, but again the roller coaster game took a dive for the road team scored just one more field goal the rest of the game, en route to the 13 point loss.
Ellisor shot 50 percent (7-of-14) from the field, posting his second double-double of the season. Junior Mason Walters (F, Milton, Wis.) was the only other Beaver in double-figures with 10 points and five rebounds. WSU shot 42.0 percent from the field and outrebounded BSU 38-31. The Beavers shot just 28 percent in the second half.
The Beavers conclude their season-long NSIC road trip at Upper Iowa University Dec. 10 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).
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