BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team fight for a top seed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division as it welcomes No. 22 Northern State University and No. 23 Minnesota State University, Moorhead to the BSU Gymnasium this weekend. The Beavers start the action Friday at 5:30 p.m., against the Wolves followed by the Dragons Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
 
The Series vs Northern State
·         Northern State leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 70-27.
·         Bemidji State and Northern State last met earlier this season on Dec. 10, 2022, with an 89-67 win by NSU in Aberdeen, S.D.
·         Northern State leads the series 31-17 when playing in Bemidji, Minn.
·         BSU and NSU first met Dec. 8, 1959, a 78-48 win by BSU.
 
The Series vs MSU Moorhead
·         MSU Moorhead leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 85-55.
·         The Beavers and Dragons last met Dec. 9, 2022, earlier this season, with a 75-49 win by MSUM in Moorhead, Minn.
·         BSU leads the series 36-35 when playing in Bemidji, Minn.
·         BSU and MSUM first met Jan. 14, 1950, with a 61-57 win by the Dragons.
 
 
Fast Break Bemidji State

• The Beavers clinched a berth in the NSIC playoffs with victories over Minot State University 71-65 and University of Mary 90-71. Bemidji State returns to the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. 
• The victory over Minot State was Bemidji State's 500^th NSIC win in program history. The Beavers first ever NSIC win came against Northern State, winning 88-84 on Jan. 5, 1994.
• BSU is riding high winning seven of its last 10 games and is 9-2 while playing in the BSU Gymnasium.
• The lowest Bemidji State can finish in the NSIC North Division is fourth but can still earn a first-round bye.
• BSU stayed hot on the court shooting over 50% in both games on the weekend improving the season average to 49.9%, leading the NSIC and 15^th in Division II.
• John Sutherland and Mohamed Kone both tallied over 20 points against the Marauders, this is the fourth time this season the pair finished with over 20 points.
• Sutherland was close to recording a triple-double at Mary with 26 points, seven rounds and seven assists.
• Dalton Albrecht, Kone and Sutherland all put up double figures in both games on the weekend for the second weekend in a row.
• Albrecht shot 8-for-13 (61.5%) from the field and 2-for-6 from three to lead BSU in scoring with 19 points against Minot State.
• Sutherland leads the Beavers in scoring with 432 points and is sixth in the conference averaging 19.6 ppg. Sutherland continues to lead the conference with a shooting percentage of 59.6% while ranking 28^th in the nation.
• Sutherland is 11 rebounds away from a top-ten rebounding season in program history. Sutherland grabbed his 200^th of the season against Mary and leads the NSIC with 9.1 rebounds per game.
• Bemidji State maintains fourth in the NSIC averaging 79.5 points per game. The Beavers are ranked 12^th in scoring defense allowing 75.5 points per game.
• The Beavers are 15^th in turnovers and are 11^th in assist to turnover ratio with a 1.13 ratio.

  
Scouting Northern State

• Head Coach Saul Phillips is in his fourth season with the Wolves (84-25).
• NSU (19-5, 15-3 NSIC) is currently riding a six-game winning streak after defeating St. Cloud State University 79-61 and University of Minnesota Duluth 89-75 last weekend. Northern State landed in the NABC Top-25 Poll at No. 22.
• NSU averages 80.6 points per game shooting 46.9% from the field and 28.5% from behind the arc.
• Senior guard Sam Masten leads the Wolves with 440 points and 146 rebounds. Masten is the current NSIC Player of the Week from the North Division, the fifth time he has won it this season and is one of the seven student-athletes to record a triple-double in Division II.

 
Scouting MSU Moorhead

• Head Coach Tim Bergstraser is in his first season with the Dragons (19-5).
• MSU Moorhead (19-5, 14-4 NSIC) split the weekend falling to Minnesota Duluth 69-87 then defeating St. Cloud State 73-68. Despite the loss MSUM is still ranked in the NABC Top-25 Poll (23).
• The Dragons average 79.9 points per game shooting 46.0% from the field and 35.7% from behind the arc.
• Sophomore guard Jacob Beeninga is one of 10 student-athletes in the NSIC with over 400 points to lead the Dragons in scoring. Beeninga has reached double-digit scoring in all but two games this year, those being nonconference match ups.

 
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).
 
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