BEMIDJI, Minn. – It was another close battle between the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team and No. 12/9 MSU Moorhead. With the Beavers holding a three-point lead with four minutes to play, the Dragons closed the game on a 12-2 run to pull out the late 63-56 victory in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday inside the BSU Gym.
Bemidji State (10-12, 6-10 NSIC) pushed ahead to a 54-41 lead with 4:08 remaining on a jumper by John Sutherland. It was another big game for Sutherland, leading the Beavers with 27 points, going 11-22 from the field, while adding five rebounds and two blocks. MSU Moorhead (19-3, 13-3 NSIC) answered getting a jumper a minute later and then moved in front at 55-54 on a transition steal and layup with 1:37 to play.
Following a near back door layup that resulted in a turnover, the Dragons extended the lead hitting two from the foul line. Trailing by three with a minute to play, BSU missed a layup and another foul resulted in two foul shots for MSU Moorhead to stretch the lead to five. Following a missed three and two more free throws by the Dragons to push the lead to seven, the Beavers nearly had a five-point trip with 23 seconds to play.
After Sutherland converted a layup and was fouled, he missed the free throw and the rebound was tipped back out in which the Beavers secured. BSU went with a three-point try by BJ Davis that just missed. The Dragons then secured the rebound and were fouled. MSUM hit the free throws to provide the final margin of 63-56.
It was a battle all night with both teams shooting under 38 percent from the field and 20 percent or lower from three. There were 44 combined free throws attempted with each team getting 22.
Early on with the game tied at 15, Bemidji State stretched the lead out to five. Dalton Albrecht scored all five points of a 5-0 run hitting a pair of layups and a free throw for the 20-15 lead. It was another double-double for Albrecht with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The Dragons answered with a 9-0 run to take the 24-20 lead. After MSU Moorhead had the lead at 30-23, the Beavers closed the half strong. John Pecarich drilled a three-pointer and then Davis added a pair from the line to leave MSUM holding the 30-28 halftime advantage.
Nearly eight minutes into the second half Bemidji State had the lead back out to five at 42-37. Albrecht hit a layup before Davis converted a three-point play.
Bemidji State then had the lead back out to four on a couple more occasions first at 50-46 on a jumper by Sutherland and then at 52-48 on another jumper by Sutherland that helped setup the finish.
Outside of the big games by Sutherland and Albrecht, Tate Olson added seven points and seven rebounds.
Bemidji State went 20-53 (37.7) from the field, 2-15 (13.3) from three and 14-22 (63.6) at the foul line. MSU Moorhead went 19-62 (30.6) from the field, 4-20 (20) from three and 21-22 (95.5) at the foul line. The Dragons also held the 46-35 edge on rebounds. BSU held the 36-28 edge on points in the paint and 15-13 in fastbreak points.
Bemidji State will remain at home to host Northern State this coming Tuesday starting at 7:30 p.m. inside the BSU Gym. Northern State collected the 83-76 win over St. Cloud State on Saturday. With still some results coming in from Saturday, Bemidji State is currently 11th in the NSIC standings at 6-10. Northern State moved up to ninth at 7-9. BSU is just a few games back from landing a top-eight and hosting spot for the NSIC Tournament with Sioux Falls in eighth at 8-8.
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).
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 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).
