BEMIDJI, Minn. – In a back-and-forth battle throughout the second half, the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team ended up having the ball and a chance to win with eight seconds to play. BJ Davis was able to get into the lane and as he was falling, made a great pass to John Sutherland who hit what turned out to be the game-winning basket with 0.4 to play to send the Beavers to the 63-62 win over Minnesota Crookston in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Saturday inside the BSU Gym.
The second half was close throughout with neither team leading by more than six points. The lead changed hands six times over the final three minutes.
Minnesota Crookston (3-5, 0-3 NSIC) held the 34-31 lead at halftime. Right away to start the final 20 minutes, John Sutherland hit a layup and Dalton Albrecht dialed long distance to push Bemidji State (6-2, 2-0 NSIC) to the 36-34 lead.
With just over six minutes to play, the Beavers stretched the lead out to six with Sutherland hitting a layup for the 54-48 lead. That lead held up until the Golden Eagles hit a three-pointer and then two from the line to move ahead at 58-57 with 3:10 to play.
Sutherland answered with a layup the next trip down to push BSU back in front by one. With two minutes to play, Minnesota Crookston pushed back in front with a layup by Reid Grant. After the teams traded misses, Sutherland changed the lead again with a layup with 51 seconds to play for the 61-60 lead. Grant had the answer for the Golden Eagles with a jumper 16 seconds later for the 62-61 lead for Minnesota Crookston.
Bemidji State missed a three on their next trip down which meant the Beavers had to foul with just eight seconds to play. With UMC in just the one-and-one bonus, the first free throw attempt was missed and Johnny Tennyson secured the rebound for the Beavers. Without a timeout, Bemidji State pushed the tempo and Davis was able to get in the lane. As he made his move, he lost his footing but was able to find an open Sutherland for the layup with just 0.4 seconds to play.
Minnesota Crookston couldn't get a half-court shot off at the buzzer sending BSU to the 63-62 victory.
The Golden Eagles held a lead of eight points a couple of times in the first half. Bemidji State trimmed it a few times but couldn't take the lead with a late three by Daxton Dayley sending Minnesota Crookston into the half leading 34-31.
Sutherland led the way, leading all scorers with 26 points and another double-double with 11 rebounds. He also added seven assists. Albrecht and Brayden Williams added 10 points apiece, with Albrecht just missing a double-double with nine rebounds. Davis had eight points off the bench, sinking a pair of three-pointers and had the big late assist to Sutherland.
Bemidji State went 25-64 (39.1) from the field, 7-25 (28) from three and 6-8 (75) at the foul line. Minnesota Crookston went 25-57 (43.9) from the field, 8-23 (34.8) from three and 4-7 (57.1) at the foul line.
Through the first few games of the NSIC season, Bemidji State is one of just three teams to start 2-0 in conference play. The Beavers will see one of those teams this coming week as they will play at No. 7 MSU Moorhead this coming Friday starting at 5:30 p.m. BSU will close the road trip at Northern State on Saturday beginning at 4 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).
