BEMIDJI, Minn. – Holding just a one-point lead near the midway point of the first half, the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team outscored Winona State 70-36 over the final 28 minutes of the game to cruise to the 93-58 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory Saturday afternoon inside the BSU Gym.
Bemidji State (10-6, 6-4 NSIC) has now won two straight against Winona State (9-7. 4-6 NSIC) and the 35-point margin of victory is the most in the series since the Beavers won by 27, 106-79, at home during the 2002-03 season. It's the second-best margin of victory in the series, only topped by the 110-65 win during the 1964-65 season.
Six players scored in double-figures with BJ Davis again leading the way with 19 points, going 7-10 from the field and 5-6 from three-point range. Dalton Albrecht recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Tate Olson tallied 13 points and six rebounds. John Sutherland and John Pecarich each collected 12 points, while Daniel Ijadimbola tallied 10 points. BSU connected on 11 three-pointers for the sixth-time this season and went 11-24 (45.8) from three for the second-best three-point percentage this season.
The Beavers pushed out to a seven-point lead just over five minutes in when Davis hit his fourth three-pointer to start the game. Winona State fought back to trim the lead to one at 23-22 when BSU began to start pulling away.
A free throw by Johnny Tennyson helped ignite a 9-0 run with Albrecht adding a layup before Pecarich and Ijadimbola hit back-to-back three-pointers to leave BSU with the 32-22 lead at the 6:20 mark of the opening half.
With the advantage down to eight, Bemidji State closed the half on a 17-2 run. Pecarich tallied six points during the run to lead the way, with Albrecht adding five, Olson with four and Ijadimbola with two to provide the halftime lead of 51-28.
Bemidji State put the game out of reach opening the second half on a 19-6 run to stretch the lead out to 36. Sutherland tallied six points during the run to lead the way.
Austin Josephson and Isaac Severts tallied points down the stretch to provide the final margin on 93-58.
The Beavers made over 50 percent from the field for the fifth time this season going 34-67 (50.7). In addition to the 11-24 from three, BSU went 14-17 (82.4) at the foul line for the third-best percentage from the charity stripe this season.
BSU limited Winona State to just 22-56 (39.3) from the field, 5-22 (22.7) from three and 9-23 (39.1) at the foul line. The Beavers cashed in 11 turnovers to hold a strong 20-5 points off turnovers advantage. BSU also led the way in second chance points (18-7) and points in the paint (42-32).
Results from around the conference has Minnesota State alone in first-place improving to 10-0. MSU Moorhead lost at home to Sioux Falls for their first setback of the season to fall to 9-1 and second-place. Minot State won at home to improve to 8-2 and remain in third. Minnesota Duluth won on the road to move to 7-3 and remain in fourth. Bemidji State climbed one spot to fifth at 6-4 and Southwest Minnesota State fell to sixth at 6-5.
Bemidji State will continue the homestand this coming Friday, Jan. 19 hosting Augustana beginning at 7:30 p.m. inside the BSU Gym. BSU will close the homestand the next day on Saturday, Jan. 20 against Wayne State starting at 5:30 p.m. Augustana rolled to the 94-65 win at Northern State on Saturday, while Wayne State won by 20 at UMary.
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).
