MINOT, N.D. – Bemidji State University Men's Basketball fell to 3-5 this evening with an 0-2 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action after an 81-79 loss to No. 20 Minot State University.
The Battle of the Beavers lived up to its name with BSU and MSU changing the lead seven times throughout the game, tying just thrice. BSU's largest lead was just two points, the first made basket of the day which was a dunk from
Malang Athian. They would go on to have multiple leads of a point, which MSU would bounce back and regain their own lead after. The BSU Beavers shot 46.4% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point arc. Tonight's free-throw shooting improved, hitting the highest shooting percentage of the season with 18 makes on 21 attempts, shooting at 85.7%.
Tonight's leading scorer was
Christian Koonce with 18 points on six field goals, three three-pointers and three free throws. Two teammates,
Daxton Dayley and
Tate Olson, each followed close behind with 17 points a piece. The Beavers' starting five earned all but five points against Minot State with all five earning double-digit points. Olson led the team in rebounds with three offensive and five defensive for a grand total of eight. He and
Peyton Newbern each tallied two steals while he and Koonce grabbed one block each.
The Beavers now prepare to host Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead Dec. 13 and 14 in the BSU Gymnasium. All NSIC games are available on the NSIC Network and Beaver games can be listened to via the Beaver Radio Network.
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).
