BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team travels to Sioux Falls, S.D., this week to begin the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Men's Basketball Tournament against University of Sioux Falls Wednesday, Feb. 28.
 
The Beavers (13-15, 9-13 NSIC) tip-off against the Cougars (12-16, 9-13 NSIC) Wednesday at 6 p.m., from the Stewart Center for the pair's third matchup of the season.
 
Fans can watch Wednesday's game at NSICNetwork.com/bsubeavers and listen to a Beaver Radio Network broadcast with Kevin Reid providing play-by-play online at www.beaverradionetwork.com or on the radio dial at 106.3FM.
 
BSU enters the game having bested the Cougars in each of the two previous games this season earning two close wins. First the Beavers defeated the Cougars 75-74 in Sioux Falls on Jan. 6 where junior John Sutherland scored a game-high 35 points. Then the Beavers returned home Feb. 16 and defeated the Cougars 76-69 with Sutherland again leading the team in scoring with 29 points along with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds from Tate Olson.
 
Bemidji State is 6-7 all-time against Sioux Falls and have won its last two meetings. In Sioux Falls, the Beavers are 3-3.
 
The Beavers are led by the forward pair of Sutherland and senior Dalton Albrecht. Sutherland paces the team averaging 20.1 points per game (20^th in Division II) along with 7.9 rebounds, a .581 field goal percentage and a team leading 109 assists. Albrecht, who is averaging a double-double on the season, follows averaging 16.6 points and 10 rebounds per game and ranks seventh in all of Division II basketball with 13 double-doubles. The pair started every game of the season but one which saw Austin Josephson replace an injured Sutherland in a game against Minot State. BJ Davis has also added a scoring touch and is averaging around 10 points per game and is leading the team in three pointers made (50) while shooting .379 percent from beyond the arc.
 
The Cougars look for strong performances from the guard tandem of Jack Thompson and Noah Puetz who have been consistent scorers for Sioux Falls this season. The pair proved troublesome for the Beavers in the two matchups this season with Thompson scoring 21 and 15 points while shooting 6-of-13 from three-point range and Puetz scoring 22 and 13 points and went 7-for-10 from three. On the defensive front, the Cougars will look to Zane Alm who is averaging 1.6 blocks per game, ranking 27^th in Division II with 45 blocks and had a combined 6 blocks against the Beavers this season.
 
BSU will be hoping to repeat last season's success in the tournament in which they made it to the semifinals after disposing of Augustana University at home and then defeating Wayne State College in the semifinal round at Sanford Pentagon.
 
The Beavers look to snap a three-game losing streak going into the tournament and advance on to the quarterfinals against Minnesota State University, Mankato at the Sanford Pentagon also in Sioux Falls, March 2-5.
 
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).

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).
 
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