BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Men's Basketball travels to Kansas City, Mo. Friday and Saturday to compete in the Central Region Challenge, hosted by Pittsburg State, kicking off the regular season for BSU. The Beavers are set to take on University of Central Missouri Friday and University of Arkansas-Monticello Saturday, both at 11 a.m.
 
This is the second year that the Beavers will appear in the Central Region Challenge. Last season, the Beavers split their series, defeating Henderson State University 76-63 and falling to Missouri Southern State University 69-61. This season, BSU takes on UCM who holds a 2-0 record over Bemidji State during the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament held in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. in 2016 and 2017. The UAM Boll Weevils and the Beavers have never met before. 
 
Bemidji State Notes

• BSU has appeared in one exhibition match this season, traveling to St. Paul, Minn. to play the University of Minnesota. In this match up, the Beavers held their own against their NCAA Division I opponent during the first half, marking just one point behind the Golden Gophers, but were tripped up in the second, falling 90-65.
• Christian Koonce led the Beavers against the Gophers, marking 11 points with three rebounds and an assist. Just behind Koonce was Jalen Patterson grabbing 10 points and an offensive rebound. 
• Looking at last season, the Beavers were led by, now senior, forward John Sutherland. Sutherland tallied 559 total points with 235 field goals and 89 free throws. He ended the season second on the team, behind Dalton Albrecht, in rebounds with 222, 80 offensive and 142 defensive. 
• Returning guard Brayden Williams tallied the most made three-point shots of all returners, grabbing 41 on 111 attempts and marking 218 total points. Williams, along with classmate Tate Olson, led the Beavers in steals with 22 each. 
• Following this weekend, the Beavers host Valley City State University at home Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and on Hometown Ticketing. The game will also be available on the NSIC Network. 

 
Central Missouri Notes

• The University of Central Missouri Mules start their season against the Beavers Friday. Last season, the Mules went 13-15 overall with an 8-14 record in the MIAA. 
• Central Missouri also returns their top points earner from last season, Jalen Knott. Knott marked 326 points last season with 101 field goals, 55 three-point shots, and 69 free throws. He was also third on the team in total rebounds with 112.
• The Mules' leading field-goal shooter from last season is Tim Jordan Jr., a six-foot-six-inch forward from Dallas, Tex. Last season, Jordan shot 48.5% on field goals with 110 makes on 227 attempts. 
• The top returning three-point shooter for UCM is Corey Skillman Jr. In 2023-24, Skillman went .435 from the arc with 27 makes on 62 attempts. 
• From the free-throw line, Knott, Jordan and Jordan Hayes earned the majority of the Mules' free-throw points, Knott at 69, Jordan at 56 and Hayes marking 42.
• UCM lost its two top rebounders from last season, Jordan Hayes and Keith Kiner III. The pair combined for 287 total rebounds with 97 offensive and 190 defensive. 
• Following Friday's matchup, the Mules take on St. Cloud State University Saturday afternoon to close out the Central Region Challenge. 

 
Arkansas-Monticello Notes

• The University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils kickoff their season with Saturday's match against the Beavers. Last season, the Boll Weevils went 13-and-15 overall with an 11-11 record in the Great American Conference. 
• At last season's Central Region Challenge, UAM lost to Winona State University and Minnesota State University, the latter would eventually become NCAA Division II National Champions. The Boll Weevils appeared in the GAC conference tournament at the end of their season, falling 72-70 to No. 4 Southern Nazarene University.
• Now a junior, Isaac Jackson led UAM with 413 points last season, marking 153 field goals, 41 three-pointers and 66 free throws. 
• The Boll Weevils lost four of their top five three-point shooters after last season, Isaac Jackson remaining. The four that left combined for 175 total three-point shots made. 
• Sunday UAM takes on Minnesota State University Moorhead at 12 p.m. to finish their stint at the Central Region Challenge.

 
For more information on the Bemidji State Men's Basketball program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversMBB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversMBB).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's 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).