BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team took the No. 2/3 team in the nation right down to the wire. After Minnesota State fought back to force overtime, the Mavericks held off a last-second winning shot attempt by the Beavers to survive and get the win by a score of 94-92 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play inside the BSU Gym on Friday night.
Bemidji State (9-6, 5-4 NSIC) held a late four-point lead with 36 seconds to play when Minnesota State (15-0, 9-0 NSIC) came roaring back. A pair of free throws brought the Mavericks to within one and after the Beavers missed the front end of a one-and-one at the line, Malik Willingham hit a running layup to tie the game at 88. BSU had one last chance turning to John Sutherland, but his challenged spinning jumper attempt in the paint spun out sending the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Bemidji State took the early lead on a free throw by BJ Davis. After Minnesota State answered to go back in front by one, a big three-point trip down the floor pushed the Beavers out to a two-point lead. Dalton Albrecht hit the first free throw and as his second one spun out, Tate Olson was there to tap it back in to push BSU to the 92-90 lead.
Minnesota State then answered with a layup from Dylan Peeters to tie the game at 92. BSU missed a layup on the other end and the Mavericks went in front with another driving layup by Malik Willingham for the 94-92 lead with 22 seconds to play. Bemidji State had two chances to either tie or win. Davis took the first shot with a deep three-point try that missed. Albrecht tracked down the loose ball, but with just a second left, he was forced to heave the shot from way downtown that missed sending the Mavericks to the 94-92 victory.
Early on, Bemidji State built a six-point lead just over four minutes in with Davis hitting back-to-back three-pointers for the 17-11 lead. BSU came out hot from three hitting five straight long balls, with Davis hitting three within the first four minutes of the game.
The lead stretched to double-digits at 30-20 on another triple, this time by Olson. Still holding a 10-point lead at 34-24 on a layup by Daniel Ijadimbola, Minnesota State closed the first half on a 18-8 run to tie the game at 42 at halftime.
The second half was tight throughout, with neither team holding more than a three-point advantage until Daxton Dayley hit three free throws to push BSU to the 66-62 lead near the midway point of the half.
Minnesota State answered with the next nine points to take their largest lead of 71-66 with 7:34 to play. The Mavericks held a decent lead of 80-77 with 3:20 to play when the Beavers turned the tables with their own 9-0 spurt. Davis hit two straight baskets and after a long ball by Olson, Sutherland hit a layup to leave Bemidji State with the 86-80 lead with just 1:05 to play. That setup the wild final minute before sending the game into overtime.
Bemidji State had big games from Davis, Sutherland and Olson, as the trio combined for 60 points. Davis had 22 points and five assists. Sutherland added 21 points and eight rebounds. Olson recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in making his first start of the season. John Pecarich added nine points and both Albrecht and Johnny Tennyson tallied eight points apiece.
The Beavers went 32-71 (45.1) from the field, 11-32 (34.4) from three and 17-22 (77.3) at the foul line. Minnesota State was 36-78 (46.2) from the field, 8-29 (27.6) from three and 14-20 (70) at the foul line. Bemidji State held the 12-10 advantage on second chance points and 16-14 on bench points.
With results from around the NSIC on Friday night, both Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead survived in overtime to remain tied for first at 9-0. Minot State won again to move to 7-2 and third in the league standings. Minnesota Duluth is fourth at 6-3. Southwest Minnesota State is fifth at 6-4, with Bemidji State sixth at 5-4.
The Beavers will remain at home to host Winona State tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon beginning at 3:30 p.m. Winona State lost at Minnesota Crookston 77-69 on Friday night.
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).
