KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bemidji State University Men's Basketball fell to the University of Central Missouri 74-68 Friday afternoon. The Beavers now look to get into the win column tomorrow as they take on University of Arkansas-Monticello at 11 a.m. for day two of the Central Region Challenge. 
 
The Beavers and Mules kept things close for the entirety of the game with the biggest point differential being just nine points. The Mules grabbed the first basket of the day and held a lead for the majority of the first half. BSU was able to grab the lead back a few times with a total of six lead changes and six ties throughout the competition. 
 
Tate Olson led the Beavers with 20 points in this season opening matchup. Olson went 7-11 on field goals with 5-8 from the three-point arc. Behind Olson was classmate Brayden Williams who went 5-8 on field goals and 1-4 at the three-point line for 12 points. Olson also led the team with four assists, followed by Peyton Newbern and Williams with three each. As a whole, the Beavers marked a .489 field-goal shooting percentage with 23 makes on 47 attempts. From the free-throw line, BSU marked a .706 shooting percentage, going 12-for-17.
 
Defensively, three Beavers marked steals for the Green and White, Olson, Williams and Jareon Mayo. Olson also grabbed eight defensive rebounds and Christian Koonce found five, plus two on offense. Austin Josephson tallied the Beavers' only block for the day. 
 
The Beavers are back in action at the same time tomorrow, taking on the University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils at 11 a.m. to close out their time at the Central Region Challenge. They then return home to host a non-conference game against the Valley City State University Vikings Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
 
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).