BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Bemidji State University junior forward John Sutherland has been recognized by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference as the North Division Player of the Year after leading the Beavers to a 2-1 record last week.
 
This is the first NSIC weekly accolade that the Grand Rapids, Minn., native has earned in his two-year career.
 
Sutherland averaged 23.3 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game and 2.3 assists per game over the three-game stretch that saw the Beavers go 2-1. He totaled 26 points in both games against Oak Hills Christian College and University of Minnesota, Mooris while earning his first double-double of the season against the Wolfpack by also grabbing 13 rebounds.
 
Sutherland also totaled 23 points and five rebounds in a non-conference game at Concordia University-St. Paul and finished the week shooting 74 percent from the field on 29-of-29 shots. Defensively, Sutherland also added three blocks and three steals.
 
Joining Sutherland was Wayne State College's Jordan Janssen as the NSIC South Division Player of the Week.
 
Sutherland and the rest of the Beavers' men's' basketball squad returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 21 when the Beavers host University of Minnesota, Crookston at 5:30 p.m., to open NSIC play.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State men's basketball program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversMBB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversMBB).
 
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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