BEMIDJI, Minn. – Wayne State used a big second half to pull away from the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team on Saturday night claiming the 82-55 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win inside the BSU Gym. Dalton Albrecht eclipsed 1,000 career points during the game.
The teams played a competitive first half that saw Wayne State (12-8, 5-8 NSIC) hold the 43-36 lead at halftime. Bemidji State (10-8, 6-6 NSIC) wasn't able to make a dent in the deficit in the second half as the Wildcats outscored the Beavers 39-19 over the final 20 minutes to win going away.
Albrecht started the game with the first points of the night connecting on a triple 34 seconds in. He then added a layup a minute later to keep the lead at three. A Tate Olson three-pointer left the Beavers with the 8-5 lead before Wayne State answered with the next seven points for the 12-8 lead.
John Pecarich and Olson hit back-to-back three-pointers before a John Sutherland layup pushed the Beavers back in front at 16-15. The lead stretched back out to three at 24-21 on a three-pointer by Johnny Tennyson near the midway point of the half.
Over the next several minutes, layups by Tennyson and then two by Sutherland kept the lead at three. After the last layup by Sutherland had the lead at 30-27, Wayne State closed the final six minutes of the half on a 16-6 run to hold the 43-36 halftime advantage.
An Olson layup 40 seconds into the second half had the Beavers to within five. The Wildcats came back with a 10-0 run to push the lead to 53-38 with 15:10 to play.
A Sutherland layup and free throw by Tennyson kept the deficit at 15 before a 9-2 run had Wayne State holding the 65-43 lead near the midway point of the half.
BSU wasn't able to cut into the deficit with Wayne State taking the 82-55 victory.
Albrecht led the Beavers with 12 points and added six rebounds. He entered the night needing jut eight points to reach 1,000 in his career. Olson went for a double-double tallying 10 points and 10 rebounds. Sutherland added nine points, five assists and five rebounds. Tennyson chipped in eight points.
Bemidji State went 20-54 (37) from the field, 8-23 (34.8) from three and 7-12 (58.3) at the foul line. Wayne State went 32-61 (52.5) from the field, 6-18 (33.3) from three and 12-14 (85.7) at the foul line.
With results from around the NSIC, Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead remain tied for first at 11-1. Minot State is third at 10-2, with Minnesota Duluth in fourth at 8-4. Southwest Minnesota State is fifth at 7-5 and Augustana is sixth at 7-6. Bemidji State is tied for seventh with Sioux Falls at 6-6.
Bemidji State will hit the road this coming week playing at Concordia-St. Paul on Friday beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Minnesota Duluth on Saturday starting at 5:30 p.m.
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).
