BEMIDJI, Minn. – Backed by a career-high 21 points from Brayden Williams, the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team erased a halftime deficit to defeat Minot State 88-77 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for Bemidji State Friday night inside the BSU Gym.
Williams went 4-6 from the field, all from three and added a 9-12 effort from the foul line for his 21 points. He also added four assists and three steals in 32 minutes. Daxton Dayley tallied 19 points for his highest point total with the Beavers. Dayley sunk four triples. John Sutherland and Dalton Albrecht each went for double-doubles. Sutherland had 17 points and 13 rebounds, with Albrecht coming away with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Minot State (4-2, 1-1 NSIC) jumped out to a 10-0 lead just over three minutes in. Still trailing 17-6, Bemidji State (5-2, 1-0 NSIC) surged in front after scoring the next 15 points. Albrecht and BJ Davis hit back-to-back threes before Dayley accounted for six points towards the end of the run to leave BSU holding the 21-17 advantage at the 8:07 mark.
The lead was out to five a pair of times, with the last at 32-27 on a pair from the line by Albrecht. Minot State closed the half on a 11-3 run to take the 38-35 lead at the break.
It was a tight battle over the first 10 minutes of the second half with neither team leading by more than four points. With BSU in front at 59-55, the Beavers began to pull away with a 12-3 run. Williams took over with eight points during the stretch, before Dayley capped the run with two from the line to push Bemidji State to the 71-58 lead with just 5:52 to play.
Minot State would get no closer than nine the rest of the way with Bemidji State claiming the 88-77 victory.
Bemidji State went 27-57 (47.4) from the field, 12-28 (42.9) from three and 22-33 (66.7) at the foul line. Minot State was 29-61 (47.5) from the field, 6-24 (25) from three and 13-17 (76.5) at the foul line.
Bemidji State held a strong 17-4 edge on second chance points and were ahead 19-11 on points off turnovers.
The win gives BSU four straight in the series against Minot State and a second straight season winning their NSIC opener.
Bemidji State will host Minnesota Crookston on Saturday afternoon starting at 3:30 p.m. inside the BSU Gym. The Golden Eagles just fell short by a score of 64-60 at St. Cloud State on Friday night.
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).
