DULUTH, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team earned its first victory of the season against University of Nebraska-Kearney 96-90 in the American Family Insurance Classic, Friday night in Duluth, Minn. Graduate student RJ Smith in his first game with the Beavers (1-0) earned a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Beaver and Lopers (0-1) traded blows back and forth causing 14 lead changes. The Beavers were able to get to an early nine-point lead from a Brandon Christlieb three. BSU was not able to get as lucky as the game continued with large leads nowhere in sight. The Lopers largest lead was eight on the Beavers. Both teams hit 35 shots in the bout but with BSU hitting two more three's and four more free throws, the Beavers were able to walk away with the win.
On the offensive returning fifth-year senior
Mohamed Kone led the team with 24 points shooting 8-for-12 from the field and going a perfect 5-for-5 for three and 3-for-4 from the line. Kone was the only Beaver perfect for three, in fact four other student-athletes connected on all their shots: Christlieb (4), Brandon Williams (3),
John Sutherland (2) and
Colton Roderick (1). All five starters were able to finish with double-digit points and Smith came off the bench finishing with 10. Transfer student Christlieb joined Kone with 20 points. Not only just scoring, Kone dished out six assists to lead the team in that category as well.
The Beavers made sure to do the dirty work too, out rebounding UNK 34-25. BSU capitalized on their missed shots recording eight offensive rebounds and coming away with 14 second chance points. They also held the Lopers to three offensive boards. Smith grabbed 11 on the night, three offensive and Sutherland was one away form a double-double with nine and 15 points.
The Beavers wrap up the American Family Insurance Classic tomorrow as they face Southern Arkansas University for the first time in program history Saturday at 1 p.m.
For more information on the Bemidji State Men's basketball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 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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