BISMARCK, N.D. (McDowell Activity Center) -- Senior forward Derek Thompson led the Bemidji State University men's basketball team with 14 points while reaching 600 career rebounds during a 68-40 win Friday night at the University of Mary. The Beavers jumped out to an early double-digit lead to improve to 5-5 overall and 2-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Thompson led BSU in scoring for the second time this season, shooting 6-of-9 from the field, and brought down his 600th career rebound at the 17:04 mark in the first half. He finished with another team-high 10 rebounds, marking his first double-double of the season and the 12th of his career. Thompson became just the sixth Beaver in program history to record 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in his career.

Senior guard Travis Bianco sparked Bemidji State's quick start with 10 of the team's first 14 points, including two 3-pointers. BSU opened the game shooting 6-of-8 on field goals compared to 1-of-11 by UMary, including 0-of-7 from 3-point field goals over the first seven minutes to take a 14-2 lead.

The Beavers' double-digit lead continued through the under 10-minute media timeout and was extended to 16, 26-10, after forcing the Marauders to miss four of its next five field goals, including all three of its 3-point attempts, until 6:43 in the half. UMary's poor shooting from long range continued through the first half, missing its first 12 3-point attempts until less than 30 seconds. Bemidji State scored eight straight points, from four different Beavers, following the under five-minute media timeout. The Beavers lead 34-12 before the Marauders knocked down their first 3-pointer with 24 seconds before halftime.

After shooting 1-of-13 from 3-point range in the first half, UMary made its first 3-point attempts of the second half to bring BSU's lead down to 14, 38-24. Thompson scored four points to lead a 7-2 BSU run to keep the lead at 19, 45-26, over the next 5:01. UMary followed with a 5-0 run before Mandan, N.D., native and BSU freshman guard Jayce Lowman hit a 3-pointer to snap the skid and give BSU a 17-point, 48-31 lead with 9:09 in the game.

Bemidji State went 4-of-5 from the field over a two-minute stretch to take its first 20-point lead, 57-35, after an and-one conversion from senior guard Mohamed Kone. The Beavers led by at least 20 points the rest of the way and finished the final 3:47 5-of-6 from the field.

Kone finished with 12 points and four rebounds while Bianco and sophomore forward Dalton Albrecht each scored 10 points. Lowman recorded five points and tied Kone for the team lead with four assists.

Bemidji State shot over 50 percent from the field for the second time this conference season, joining the Dec. 4 win at St. Cloud State University. The Beavers connected on 50.9 percent from the field (29-57), 26.7 percent from long range (4-15) and 85.7 percent from the free throw line (6-7). The Beavers' defense limited the Marauders to 23.2 percent from the floor (13-56) and 22.7 from 3-point range (5-22). BSU outrebounded UMary, 41-33, and scored 19 points off 14 Marauder turnovers.

Bemidji State closes its weekend with a 3:30 p.m. tip-off Saturday at Minot State University.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).

Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--