MARSHALL, Minn. – After pulling to within four points just a few minutes before halftime, the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team saw Southwest Minnesota State reel off a 14-0 run over the two halves and five minutes of gametime to help boost them to the 82-65 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory Friday night inside the R/A Facility.
BJ Davis had another strong game leading Bemidji State (8-5, 4-3 NSIC) with 21 points going 7-12 from the field and 5-8 from three. He also added three rebounds and three assists. John Sutherland tallied 13 points on 6-10 shooting, adding six assists and four rebounds. Dalton Albrecht gave the Beavers three in double figures with 11 points, while adding six rebounds and two steals.
Southwest Minnesota State (8-6, 5-3 NSIC) opened the scoring with the first five points. BSU jumped in front for the first time at 17-15 off a three-pointer by Davis at the 12:51 mark. After the Mustangs tied it, Davis hit another long ball before Sutherland added a transition layup to give the Beavers a 20-15 advantage.
Southwest Minnesota State started to make their moving going back in front before the Beavers tied it at 27 on another layup by Sutherland. A three-pointer by Johnny Tennyson at the 1:54 mark pulled Bemidji State to within four when the Mustangs closed the final two minutes of the half on a 7-0 run to hold the 44-33 halftime lead.
The run continued with the Mustangs scoring the first seven points of the second half for the 51-33 lead.
A pair of free throws by Tate Olson and then a layup by Albrecht brought the Beavers to within 14 near the midway point of the half, but that would be as close as they could get the rest of the way.
Bemidji State went 25-47 (53.2) from the field, 9-21 (42.9) from three and 6-8 (75) at the foul line. Southwest Minnesota State went 33-65 (50.8) from the field, 12-29 (41.4) from three and 4-6 (66.7) from the foul line. Turnovers were a key stat with Bemidji State turning it over 18 times to just nine times for the Mustangs. That resulted in Southwest Minnesota State holding the 24-11 points off turnovers edge.
Bemidji State will continue the road trip tomorrow afternoon playing at Sioux Falls beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Cougars defeated St. Cloud State 92-83 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).
