BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team will start its 2022-23 season at the American Family Insurance Classic in Duluth, Minn., Friday, Nov. 11-12. The Beavers open their season against University of Nebraska-Kearney at 4 p.m., and Southern Arkansas University the following day at 1 p.m.
 
The Series vs Nebraska-Kearney
·         Nebraska-Kearney leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 0-2.
·         The Beavers and Lopers last met Mar. 13, 2004, a 104-90 win by NKU in Kearney, Neb.
·         This is the first meeting at a neutral location in the series
·         Bemidji State and Nebraska-Kearney first met Jan. 4, 1993, a 97-90 win by NKU.
 
The Series vs Southern Arkansas
·         This is the first meeting between the Beavers and the Muleriders.
 
Fast Break Bemidji State

• BSU returns to action after finishing their 2021-22 season with a record of 8-17 and 5-16 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
• Last year in BSU's 100th basketball season the Beavers were able to start the season winning their first to games
• The Beavers were selected to finish 15th overall in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and seventh in the NSIC North Division Poll. The Beavers totaled 47 points in the overall poll and 14 points in the divisional poll.
• Coaching for his 11th season is Head Coach Mike Boschee who has earned a record of 115-148 coaching in Bemidji and a career record of 230-263. Under Boschee the Beavers have a record of 7-3 in season openers.
• Bemidji State adds six new Beavers to the roster. Among them are freshmen Daniel Ijadimbola, Tate Olson, Johnny Tennyson and Brayden Williams. Transferring to the program are junior Bradon Christlieb and graduate student RJ Smith.
• Smith is coming off a season where he led the Southern Athletic Association with 8.7 rebounds was second on his team and fourth in the conference averaging 17.4 points per game. At his time at Centre College, Smith recorded nine double-doubles. 
• The Beavers have two returning starters in Mohamed Kone and John Sutherland. Kone led the team last year in assists with 115 and Sutherland was third on the team in rebounds grabbing 137. As for scoring both finished the season in the top four of the team Kone second with 292 points and 248 points for Sutherland in fourth.
• Last season, BSU ranked second in the NSIC in rebounds (37.4 rpg) and offensive rebounds (11.1 rpg) fifth in field goal percentage (.470), 10th in scoring offense (73.2 ppg), fifth in rebounding defense (32.2 rpg) and ninth in scoring defense (72.8 ppg).

 
Scouting Nebraska-Kearney
 

• Coaching his eighth season for the Lopers is Kevin Lofton with a record of 102-98
• Nebraska-Kearney finished the 2021-21 with a record of 11-17 and a conference record of 7-15 
• UNK averaged 73.5 points per game shooting 49.3% and 39.8% from behind the arc.
• The Lopers have seven returning student athletes from the 2021-22 season
• This is UNK and BSU third meeting with the Lopers taking the first two games 

 
Scouting Southern Arkansas 
 

• The Muleriders hire Logan Quinn former assistant coach to now hold the reins
• SAU finished the 2021-22 season with a record of 18-12 overall and a conference record 13-9
• In the previous season Southern Arkansas averaged 74.8 points per game while shooting 42.4% and 32.6% from three
• Four Muleriders are making their return to the court after their 2021-22 season
• -This is the first ever meeting between SAU and BSU

 
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).
 
--bsu—