BURNSVILLE, Minn. – After posting his ninth double-double of the season to close the weekend, John Sutherland was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division Player of the Week announced by the league office on Monday.

Sutherland earns his third NSIC weekly honor this season alone, having previously taken home the award on Nov. 21 and Jan. 16.

The junior forward from Grand Rapids, Minn., averaged a double-double for the week with 21.5 points and 11 rebounds in the weekend split against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. He connected on an impressive 19-35 (54.3) from the field and added 11 assists to average 5.50 per game.

Sutherland opened the week posting 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and added a steal in 40 minutes in leading the Beavers to the 83-76 victory over the Mustangs. The next day, Sutherland went for his ninth double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds in the heart-pounding overtime game against Sioux Falls. He also added six assists and played 41 minutes.

Through 20 games played this, Sutherland is averaging 19.5 points (sixth in the NSIC) and 9.3 rebounds (second in the NSIC).

Bemidji State, currently fourth in the NSIC North Division at 14-8 overall and 9-7 in conference play, travel to North Dakota this week to play Minot State on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and UMary on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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).