CROOKSTON, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team earns its second Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory with an 86-75 win over University of Minnesota, Crookston Saturday afternoon in Crookston, Minn. In his return to the court John Sutherland led the Beavers (6-5, 2-4 NSIC) with 22 points.
 
Bemidji State started to pull away with a pair of Dalton Albrecht free throws in the third minute. The Beavers were able to extend their lead to 12 in the first half. Going into half time BSU shot 18-31 (58.1%) giving them a 47-40 advantage. The Golden Eagles (1-11, 0-6 NSIC) made it a game in the second half clawing their way to a 61-60 lead with 10 minutes left. That lead did not last long with Albrecht nailing a jump shot 29 seconds later. The Beavers kept the lead and finished the game up 86-75.
 
Sutherland came off the bench to lead the Beavers in scoring with 22 points. Also coming off the bench Mohamed Kone broke into double figures with 13. The other student-athletes in double digits were Albrecht with 16 and RJ Smith with 10 in his return to the court after missing the last six games. Brandon Christlieb recorded three assists to lead the Beavers.
  
Rebounds were in contention in the game with the BSU coming away with one more than UMC with 30. Albrecht led the team with seven rebounds. Smith was second with six, five coming in the first half and his final one was the last in the game. Sutherland rounded out the top three with five boards. Christlieb came away with two of the Bemidji State's three steals.
  
The Beavers will return to court in 13 days as they host University of Mary and Minot State University on Dec. 30-31 in the BSU Gymnasium.
 
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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