BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Men's Basketball heads west to Crookston, Minn. and Minot, N.D. this weekend for the start of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. Both games are available for streaming on the NSIC Network. 
 
The Beavers start NSIC play with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against the Golden Eagles Friday, the 78^th meeting of the two teams in a series that began 102 years ago. The Beavers have swept the past five games of the series with a 8-2 record in the past 10 games. Saturday, the Battle of the Beavers heads to Minot for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. The Bemidji State Beavers and Minot State Beavers marked their first meeting in 1967 where Bemidji State took the with 86-82, followed by two more wins. BSU holds a 18-16 advantage in the series. 
 
Bemidji State Notes

• Bemidji State is 3-3 so far this season after dropping two games in Florida to Barry University and Lynn University early last week. 
• The Beavers are led in scoring by senior forward Malang Athian who has marked 86 total points for an average of 14.3 per game. He is shooting at 47.7% from the field and 36.4% at the arc. Under the basket, Athian has grabbed 25 rebounds, 11 offensive and 14 on defense.
• Tate Olson leads the rebounding front with 52 total, three offensive and 49 defensive. He is also second on the team with 18 assists. 
• As a team, the Beavers have totaled 447 points with 166 field goals and 55 three-point baskets, plus 60 free-throw makes. 
• Following this weekend, Bemidji state hosts Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead Dec. 13 and 14, respectively. 

 
Minnesota Crookston Notes

• Minnesota-Crookston sits at 1-6 this season with one loss coming from NSIC play. Most recently, their trip to Florida ended similarly to Bemidji State's with two losses against Eckerd College and University of Tampa.
• UMC's top student athlete is Reid Grant with 94 points this season off 34 field goals, 15 three-point makes and 11 free throws. He is shooting at 35.4% from the field and 32.6% at the three-point arc. Grant is also third on the team with 37 total rebounds. The team's leading rebounder is Jordan Mitchell with 53 total rebounds this season. He has marked 13 on offense and 40 on defense with an average of 7.6 per game. He has also tallied 14 blocks.
• The Golden Eagles host St. Cloud State University on Saturday followed by University of Mary a week later. 

 
Minot State Notes

• The Minot State Beavers come into the weekend at number one in the NSIC and number 20 in the nation with a record of 9-0, 1-0 in NSIC play. They'll take on St. Cloud State University Friday before hosting Bemidji State on Saturday. 
• Junior forward Caleb Van De Griend was named this week's NSIC Player of the Week after putting up 59 points with 26 field goals and two three pointers, plus five free throws. He also tallied 31 rebounds as the Beavers took on Minnesota-Crookston, South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State University.

 
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).