Box Score BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- The four graduating seniors of Bemidji State University men's basketball ended their collegiate careers on a high note during a 92-89 overtime victory over St. Cloud State University on Saturday at BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers finish the 2021-22 season with an 8-17 record overall and 5-16 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Senior guard Travis Bianco led BSU with 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting with nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Senior forward Derek Thompson recorded his 15th career double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds, ending his career as BSU's all-time rebounding leader with 723 boards and third on the all-time BSU scoring list with 1,558 career points.
Senior guard Gare Ewefada made his first career start with the Beavers usual lineup of Bianco, Thompson, senior Tyler Behrendt and sophomore John Sutherland. Behrendt, Bianco, Ewefada and Thompson were all recognized during senior day festivities before the game.
BSU opened the game on an 8-2 run before taking a game-high 15-point lead, 24-9, nearly 10 minutes into play. The Beavers put together an 11-0 run behind four points from senior forward Cody Landwehr and an and-one conversion from Ewefada to end the streak.
The Huskies cut the Beavers lead to 10 points before a 13-0 run gave SCSU its first lead since the first basket of the game. BSU went 2-of-6 from the field over the final 3:26 of the half with two turnovers given away to face a 41-37 deficit heading into the second half.
SCSU's lead was extended to a game-high nine points, 50-41, before back-to-back 3-pointers from Behrendt cut the BSU deficit to three. Three minutes later, the Beavers came back with a 12-0 run behind six points from Bianco and another 3-pointer from Behrendt to take a 65-58 lead with 9:17 to play.
BSU led by eight with just over three minutes left as a 7-0 run brought SCSU within one point, 76-75. Scores from Bianco and Thompson kept the Beavers lead at three, 80-77, before a 3-pointer from SCSU to tie the game and force overtime.
During the overtime period, the Huskies scored the first four points on free throws ahead of an 8-0 run by the Beavers to lead, 88-84. BSU forced SCSU to miss three straight 3-pointers while Bianco went 4-of-4 from the free throw line over the final 18 seconds to seal the overtime victory.
For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and 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 Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
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