SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Yet another late game-winning shot sent the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team to victory. This time, the hero was Johnny Tennyson as he took a pass from John Pecarich and drilled the three from the wing to send the Beavers to the 75-74 win over Sioux Falls on the road Saturday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. John Sutherland had another monster game with a career-high 35 points.
Tennyson connected on two three-pointers on the day, but none bigger than his game-winner with just seconds remaining. That big shot, coupled with Sutherland's new career-high 35 points were enough for the big road victory. Sutherland went 13-17 from the field and 9-11 from the foul line. He also added seven rebounds and three assists.
The game was close throughout the final minutes of the second half. Bemidji State (9-5, 5-3 NSIC) went in front by three at 66-63 on a pair of free throws by Brayden Williams with 4:27 to play. Sioux Falls (7-8, 4-5 NSIC) answered with the next four points off a pair of layups to go back in front at 67-66.
The Beavers pushed back ahead at 72-71 as Sutherland sunk his 34th and 35th points of the game from the foul line with just 1:24 remaining. The Cougars called timeout and Kyle Ingwerson connected on a three-pointer to push Sioux Falls back ahead at 74-72 with 1:09 remaining.
Each team missed shots before the free throw line played a key role. With 18 seconds left, the Cougars missed the front end of a one-and-one at the line. After the Beavers missed a layup, the Cougars were sent back to the line with eight seconds to play. Again, another miss on the front end of the one-and-one opened the door for the Beavers. That's when Pecarich was able to find Tennyson while on the ground for the game-winning three-pointer with just 1.3 seconds left. Sioux Falls tried a desperation three, but it fell short sending BSU to the thrilling one-point win.
Early on, Bemidji State went on a 6-0 run to take a 13-8 lead midway through what was a low-scoring first half. Williams hit the first three-pointer and then Dalton Albrecht closed the run with another long ball.
After Sioux Falls answered with a 7-0 run, the teams would stay within a couple of points of each other until BSU stretched the lead to six at 32-26 on a layup by Tate Olson. Sioux Falls closed the opening half with a flurry getting a pair of free throws and a three-pointer all by Jack Thompson to leave BSU with the 32-31 lead at the break.
Bemidji State looked to be pulling away a bit early in the second half jumping the lead to 10. Albrecht sunk two from the line, Sutherland hit a jumper and another three-pointer by Williams gave BSU the 45-35 lead with 15:05 to play.
Sioux Falls fought back to tie and eventually regained the slim one-point lead at 56-55 with eight minutes to play. That setup the wild finish where the lead changed 13 times before Tennyson's three sealed the win.
Outside of the career-game from Sutherland and Tennyson's game-winner, Williams reached double figures with 12 points and dished out seven assists. Albrecht was close to another double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Olson added seven points and BJ Davis tied Tennyson with six points.
Bemidji State went 26-58 (44.8) from the field, 8-23 (34.8) from three and 15-17 (88.2) at the foul line. Sioux Falls went 31-62 (50) from the field, 7-23 (30.4) from three and 5-9 (55.6) at the foul line. BSU held the edge in points off turnovers (18-9).
With results from around the conference on Saturday, Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead remain tied for the conference lead both at 8-0. Minot State with a big road win at Minnesota Duluth moves to third at 6-2. Minnesota Duluth and Southwest Minnesota State are tied for fourth both at 6-3. Bemidji State is in sixth at 5-3.
Sutherland's 35 points ranks in a tie for seventh highest in the conference this season in a game.
The Beavers now return home to open a four-game homestand this coming Friday against nationally-ranked Minnesota State with gametime set for 5:30 p.m. inside the BSU Gym.
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).
