ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team ran into a hot shooting Northern State squad that connected on 14 three-pointers on their way to the 84-68 win over the Beavers in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday inside Wachs Arena.
Northern State (5-5, 3-1 NSIC) made 14-25 (56) from three and overall shot over 50 percent from the field (28-55) to get past Bemidji State (6-4, 2-2 NSIC). Four players scored in double-figures to lead the Wolves with Josh Dilling going for 33 points.
John Sutherland had another strong game for the Beavers with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists. He went 8-12 from the field. Dalton Albrecht came in with six double-doubles and added another on Saturday with 19 points and 10 rebounds. BJ Davis added eight points off the bench with a couple of triples.
Northern State stretched the lead out to four at 11-7 just over four minutes in when the Beavers countered to take their first lead. Colin Schaefer hit a three-pointer and then he set up Albrecht for a jumper on the next trip down the floor to push Bemidji State to the 12-11 advantage.
Just when the Beavers had momentum, the Wolves answered with the next eight points to regain the lead at 19-12 near the midway point of the opening half.
Schaefer ended the run with a layup, but Northern State kept pushing. Another quick 8-0 run had the lead up to 13 and a Dilling three right before the half gave the Wolves a 41-27 lead at the break.
Baskets by Albrecht and Sutherland over the early minutes of the second half kept the Beavers within 12, but each time BSU tried to make a push, the Wolves had an answer. A 6-0 run had the lead out to 18 and Bemidji State would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way with Northern State claiming the 84-68 victory.
Bemidji State also shot well from the field making 27-53 (50.9), 6-20 (30) from three and 8-12 (66.7) at the foul line. In addition to the big numbers from the field for the Wolves, they went 14-18 (77.8) from the foul line. The Beavers held the edge in bench points (19-8), points in the paint (38-20) and fastbreak points (8-2).
With results from the weekend, Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead are both 4-0 in conference play. Winona State is third at 4-1. Minnesota Duluth, Minot State and Northern State are all tied for fourth at 3-1. Bemidji State is seventh at 2-2. Concordia-St. Paul, Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls are all tied for eighth at 2-3.
Bemidji State will return home to host UMary this coming Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. The Beavers will close the week playing at St. Cloud State next Saturday (Dec. 16) beginning at 1 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).
