SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The fourth seed out of the north division the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team continued to the semifinals of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Men's Basketball Tournament by defeating the one seed of the south division Wayne State 79-71 Saturday afternoon at the Sanford Pentagon. Johnny Tennyson scored a career-high 23 points with six made three pointers to be named Player of the Game.
The Beavers return to the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament for the first time since the 2012-13 season and win their first postseason game at the Pentagon. Bemidji State is now 3-2 against Wayne state in the post season. This year's team reaches 20 wins for just the third time in program history.
RJ Smith started the scoring for the Beavers with a layup assisted by Brayden Williams and Mohamed Kone followed that up with a three-pointer to give BSU its first lead at 5-4 nearly three minutes in. The Beavers had a few early turnovers but were able to keep right with the Wildcats only down one at 8-7 going into the first media timeout. Tennyson put Bemidji State back on top with a three-pointer. Smith knocked down his first three of the game, which was his sixth made triple in a row over the last three games near the midway point of the half. A few minutes later, Dalton Albrecht and Smith hit back-to-back layups to stretch the lead to seven.
The Wildcats scored six-unanswered points in just under two minutes to pull to within a point at 19-18. Kone snapped the run with a big triple to give BSU a little breathing room. Jayce Lowman landed on the scorer's sheet just under the five-minute mark with a jumper to push the score to 24-20 in favor of Bemidji State. In the final minute WSC had its largest lead at four, but Tennyson hit another late first half triple before the horn sounded leaving the Wildcats up just one at 32-31 at the break.
Smith and Tennyson led the scoring for the Beavers through the first 20 minutes with seven points apiece. Despite turning the ball over nine times in the first half, BSU kept the game within one and forced seven turnovers from Wayne State. Nick Ferrarini led the Wildcats with 11 points and went 3-for-3 from behind the arc. John Sutherland grabbed five rebounds to lead both teams.
Albrecht scored the first basket in the second half to retake the lead a minute in. After Wayne State answered, the Beavers then reeled off a quick 11-0 run in just under two minutes to stretch the lead to double-digits. Kone scored back-to-back threes, which was followed up with five points from Tennyson to give Bemidji State the 44-34 advantage. Smith continued his streak from three with his second of the game to put BSU up 53-40 with 13 minutes to play. Sutherland on the following drive showed off his range with a three of his own to move the lead out to 14.
Entering the final 10 minutes the Beavers held an eight-point lead over the Wildcats. At the seven-minute mark Tennyson knocked down his fifth three-pointer of the game to keep pace with scoring of the Wildcats and the lead at nine, 68-59. WSC caught fire around the 6:30 mark going on a fast 6-0 run in a minute to trim the BSU lead to three at 68-65.
Holding just a six-point lead, Sutherland came up with a huge block and after the Wildcats were within four, Tennyson added a key block with two minutes to play. Still holding a four-point lead with a minute to play, Smith secured a big offensive rebound and later Kone hit a jumper to push the lead to 75-69. Bemidji State then secured the win down the stretch with Sutherland and Lowman each going 2-for-2 from the foul line to claim the 79-71 victory.
After Williams went down early in the first half, Tennyson made his mark with a game and career-high 23 points. He shot 8-for-10 from the field, 6-for-8 from behind the arc and 1-for-2 at the free throw line. Sutherland and Kone were right behind with 16 points apiece. Smith also finished in double-figures with 12. Kone set up eight baskets for a season-high eight assists.
The Beavers continued their dominance on the glass out rebounding the Wildcats 37-29. Sutherland fell one rebound short of a double-double with nine rebounds for a game-high. Kone pulled in six rebounds and Albrecht and Smith finished with four apiece. Bemidji State swatted five Wayne State shots, with the Player of the Game Tennyson recording two, along with Sutherland, Kone, and Lowman blocking one.
Bemidji State continues on in the tournament to the semifinals where they will take on the winner of Minnesota State University, Moorhead and University of Sioux Falls. The Beavers will hit the court on Monday in the Sanford Pentagon starting at 7 p.m.
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).
