ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – John Sutherland added another career-high night, this time 31 points, but it wasn't quite enough as the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team just fell short at the buzzer with Eckerd claiming the 75-73 victory Saturday evening on Eckerd's home court.
Sutherland went 15-22 from the field for his 31 points for a new career-high, breaking the 29 he opened the season with that was his previous career-best against Henderson State. He also added eight rebounds in 38 minutes. Dalton Albrecht closed his big weekend in Florida with 17 more points and five rebounds. He also dished out three assists. Colin Schaefer gave the Beavers (4-2) three in double figures with 12 points.
Eckerd (5-1) came out of the gate tallying the first six points just over a minute in. The Tritons continued with the pressure and had the lead out to 17 at 26-9 near the midway point of the first half. A jumper by Sutherland had the Beavers back to within 11, but Bemidji State wouldn't get any closer the rest of the half with Eckerd going to halftime with the 48-35 advantage.
The Tritons remained in control through the first 10 minutes of the second half still looking at a 67-55 lead. A 6-0 run had Bemidji State finally back within striking distance. Sutherland started the run with a layup. After Albrecht hit two from the line, Sutherland closed the quick run with a layup that had BSU within six with still eight minutes to play.
After Eckerd stopped the run momentarily with a jumper, Bemidji State reeled off the next nine points to capture the lead. Sutherland continued his career night hitting a pair of layups and after a Schaefer steal and transition layup, Albrecht sunk a triple to push BSU to the 70-69 lead with 4:35 to play.
That setup the exciting final few minutes. Eckerd went back in front with a jumper at the 3:27 mark and after Albrecht split two from the line to tie the game at 71, the Tritons answered on their next trip down to go ahead 73-71. After the teams traded misses, a foul sent Eckerd to the line where the Tritons split a pair to go ahead by three with 1:23 to play. Schaefer answered with a layup to cut it to one. The defense held forcing a missed three and there was a foul sending Albrecht to the line. He couldn't hit either foul shot, but the Tritons split their free throws leaving the door open at 75-73 with 20 seconds to play.
Bemidji State went with the go-ahead three that missed, but the ball went off Eckerd giving the Beavers another chance. BSU tried another three with a few seconds left, but a block denied the attempt. The ball went back to Albrecht for one more try, but his three-pointer missed sending Eckerd to the 75-73 victory.
Bemidji State went 29-65 (44.6) from the field, 4-20 (20) from three and 11-18 (61.1) at the foul line. BSU dominated on points in the paint holding the 46-28 advantage.
Bemidji State will now return home to host Minot State on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. to open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play inside the BSU Gym. The Beavers will close the week on Saturday afternoon hosting Minnesota Crookston at 3:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bemidji State Men's Basketball program, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversMBB). Like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversMBB).
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU 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).
