BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team earned its third Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory in a row after defeating Minot State University 81-73 Saturday afternoon at the BSU Gymnasium. John Sutherland put on another incredible performance recording his third double-double of the season with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Minot State (7-5, 4-4 NSIC) started the game fast with a five-point run in the first two minutes and leading eight points in the first five. The Beavers (8-5, 4-4 NSIC) played from behind a majority of the first half but were always within striking distance until a pair of Dalton Albrecht free throws earned them the lead. To end the first half BSU went on a seven-point run all coming from Albrecht. BSU and MSU came out of the half trading layups until Bemidji State started to gain more momentum and extended its lead to 12 from an Albrecht three pointer. With under five to play Minot State cut the BSU lead down to three but with solid free throw shooting Bemidji State walked away with the 81-73 win.   
  
For the second night in a row Sutherland scored 12 points in the first half, followed by scoring more in the second half. Sutherland led the Beavers in points with 25 coming from four free throws, one three pointer, and 18 points from the paint. Albrecht put up 23 points on the night only missing shots from range going 8-for-10 from the field and 1-for-3 from three. Albrecht 23 points set a new career high previously 21 points against University of Minnesota, Crookston, also most a year ago on Jan 2, 2022. Mohamed Kone rounded out the top three scorers with 14 points. Brayden Williams dished three assists to lead the Beavers.
   
The Beavers had complete control of the boards finishing the night with 40 compared to Minot State's 26. Of MSU's 26, eight were offensive but BSU held them to only four second chance points. Sutherland grabbed 12 rebounds on the night for a double-double on the night, with eight coming in the second half. Williams and Albrecht were behind Sutherland with seven rebounds. RJ Smith made a key block in the final minutes of the game to stop the Minot State rally. Smith's block was the only block recorded by BSU on the night.
   
The Beavers step away from NSIC action as they have a quick turnaround as they host Northland College, Jan. 2 to bring in the New Year at 6 p.m., 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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