BEMIDJI, Minn. – No. 22 Northern State University used a 10-0 run to start the game and then a 20-9 run to open the second half to pull away from the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team for the 85-63 win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Friday night inside the BSU Gym.
Northern State (20-5, 16-3 NSIC) collected the first 10 points of the game in just under three minutes into the opening half. Bemidji State (16-9, 11-8 NSIC) answered back with a strong 8-0 spurt to trim the deficit to two. Mohamed Kone tallied the first points of the night for the Beavers hitting a triple. Dalton Albrecht added a three of his own before John Sutherland closed the run with a layup at the 16:04 mark leaving NSU ahead at 10-8. It was the start of another big night for Sutherland. The junior forward went for a game-high 27 points, while adding seven rebounds. The 27 points ties a career-high he scored back on Jan. 14 against Minnesota State. It's the 10th time this season Sutherland has scored at least 20 points in a game.
Each time the Beavers looked to be getting close to either tying or taking the lead, the Wolves had an answer. After NSU went back in front by seven at 17-10, Sutherland scored five straight points, including a long ball, before RJ Smith finished the run with a jumper that had BSU back within two at 19-17 near the midway point of the half.
The Wolves threatened to put the game away with a lengthy run towards the end of the half that stretched the lead out to 14 at 36-22 with four minutes to go before the break. Bemidji State came roaring back, closing the half on a 13-2 run. Smith, Johnny Tennyson and Albrecht hit three straight three-pointers to cut the lead to five in 55 seconds. After NSU pushed back ahead by seven, Albrecht and Kone closed the half with layups to leave Northern State clinging to the 38-35 halftime lead.
It was an impressive first 20 minutes of the night for Sutherland as he tallied 14 points and seven rebounds. Albrecht added eight points and Kone with five.
Early in the second half, the Wolves had the lead out to seven just over two minutes in. After Kone connected on a layup at the 17:22 mark had the deficit back to five, Northern State unleashed a quick 8-0 run to push the lead to 13 at 54-41.
BSU tried to fight back throughout the second half, but the hill was too much to climb. Sutherland hit a layup to cut the deficit back to 12 near the midway point of the half and then Brayden Williams added a layup a couple minutes later to again keep the deficit at 12. After getting as close as 11 on a pair of baskets by Sutherland, Northern State closed the game on a 13-2 run to claim the 85-63 victory.
Sutherland went 12-19 from the field, adding a three-pointer and a pair of free throws for his 27 points. Smith and Albrecht each scored in double-figures adding 10 points apiece. Kone was close to a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds. He also added a team-high six assists. BSU finished the night making 26-62 (41.9) from the field, 7-21 (33.3) from three and 4-10 (40) at the foul line.
Sam Masten led four Wolves in double-figures tallying 21 points. He made it a double-double with 11 rebounds. Jacksen Moni tallied 19 points, while Jordan Belka chipped in 18 and Josh Dilling with 16. Northern State went 33-62 (53.2) from the field, 14-33 (42.4) from three and 5-5 (100) at the foul line.
With the results from tonight, Bemidji State is now two games back of Minnesota Duluth for third in the NSIC North Division. Northern State continues to hold the top spot at 16-3, followed by MSU Moorhead at 15-4. The Beavers have secured at least the fourth seed in the division, which will be a home NSIC Playoff Game on Feb. 22.
Bemidji State will continue the homestand tomorrow (Saturday) when they welcome No. 23 MSU Moorhead to the BSU Gym for Senior Day starting at 3:30 p.m. The Beavers will honor their two seniors in RJ Smith and Mohamed Kone before the game. MSU Moorhead picked up the 85-77 road win at Minnesota Crookston earlier tonight.
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).
