BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team rallied from 14 points down with five minutes left in the first half to defeat University of Mary, 77-67 in its back-to-back Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory Friday night at the BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers were led by John Sutherland with 26 points and seven rebounds in the victory over the Marauders. 
  
Mary started off hot controlling the first half of the game leading from the first minute. The Beavers stuck with them but were unable to take the lead in the first 20 minutes of play. With five minutes left in the first half Mary held a 14-point lead over Bemidji State but a layup from Sutherland ignited the Beavers to an 11-point run and cut the deficit to three to go into the half down by four. Starting the second half teams traded baskets. The Beavers took their first lead of the game at 11:55 from a three pointer from Dalton Albrecht. The lead bounced back four more times but a three-point jumper from RJ Smith gave the Beavers the last lead change. With under two minutes to play a pair of Brayden Williams free throws landed Bemidji State its largest lead with 13. 
  
Sutherland broke into double figures in the first half with 12 and put up 14 more in the second half to lead BSU in scoring. Sutherland has scored 20 points in his last two games with 26 tonight and 22 against University of Minnesota, Crookston, where he came off the bench. Mary did not have an answer for Sutherland who went 13-for-16 on the night with all his points coming from within the paint. Coming off the bench Smith and Johnny Tennyson finished with double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. After being shut out in the first half Albrecht and Mohamed Kone combined for 19 points in the final 20 minutes. Williams was the other Beaver on the scorer's sheet with nine.  
   
The Beavers held control of the board out rebounding the Marauders 38-29. Leading Bemidji State and setting a career high in rebounds was Williams with eight, all coming on the defensive glass. Sutherland was right behind with seven, two offensive and five defensive. Albrecht and Kone also finished the night with two offensive boards. The Beavers were able to capitalize on offensive rebounds with 11 points. Sutherland, Albrecht and Tennyson all got their hands on shots blocking four Marauders' attempts.  
   
The Beavers look to add to their winning streak as they welcome Minot State University tomorrow, Dec. 31 for a 3 p.m., tip-off 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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