MARSHALL, Minn. (R/A Facility) -- Sophomore forward John Sutherland neared a double-double Saturday night as Bemidji State University men's basketball fell to Southwest Minnesota State University, 72-64, at R/A Facility in Marshall, Minn. The Beavers fall to 6-11 overall and 3-10 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while the Mustangs improve to 10-7 and 6-6 in the NSIC.

Sutherland led all players with 11 rebounds and added nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. Six of his rebounds came on the offensive end, leading BSU to 17 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points as a team. Senior guards Mohamed Kone and Gare Ewefada paced the Beavers in scoring with 12 points each while fellow senior guard Tyler Behrendt added 11 points with three 3-pointers.

The Beavers led by as many as three points early before the Mustangs went on a 21-10 run over a nearly 10-minute span to near the end of the first half. BSU hit just 3-of-14 shots from the field while SMSU sank 9-of-17, including three from long range during the run.

After closing the gap to four at halftime, 34-30, BSU took the lead with six straight points to open the second half. Sutherland took a steal down the court for a dunk to give BSU its final lead of the night. SMSU went on an 11-2 run over the next 3:43 and took a game-high lead of 15 points, 70-55, with two minutes to play.

Bemidji State returns home Jan. 28-29 to face Augustana University and Wayne State College at BSU Gymnasium.

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).

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