CROOKSTON, Minn. – Holding a four-point lead at halftime, the Bemidji State University Men's Basketball team outscored Minnesota Crookston by 14 over the final 20 minutes to come away with the 80-62 victory on Thursday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
In addition to the big surge in the second half, Dalton Albrecht scored a new career-high 31 points. He made it a double-double with 12 rebounds. He went 13-15 from the field, including a 5-6 clip from downtown. Albrecht also sent back two blocks.
John Sutherland was a rebound away from another double-double scoring 21 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Brayden Williams added 11 points and seven assists.
Trailing 4-3, Bemidji State (12-12, 8-10 NSIC) went on a 9-0 run. Albrecht started the run with a layup and after a rare four-point-play by Williams, BJ Davis closed the run hitting a three-pointer that left the Beavers with the 12-4 lead.
The lead eventually reached eight at 18-10 on a triple by Albrecht. Minnesota Crookston (6-17, 3-14 NSIC) surged back to eventually tie the game at 32 before BSU finished the final minutes of the half outscoring the Golden Eagles 6-2 to hold the 38-34 lead at the break.
Bemidji State then came out on fire to start the second half. BSU outscored UMC 22-7 over the first eight minutes. Albrecht accounted for 13 points during the run, connecting on a trio of triples.
Holding the 60-41 lead following the big run, Minnesota Crookston was only able to trim the deficit to 11 twice with the Beavers outscoring the Golden Eagles 42-28 over the final 20 minutes.
It was the second time this season in which Bemidji State made at least 55 percent from the field tying the 55 percent effort against Oak Hills Christian.
The Beavers went 30-54 (55.6) from the field, 10-21 (47.6) from three and 10-16 (62.5) at the foul line. Minnesota Crookston went 25-61 (41) from the field, 5-23 (21.7) from three and 7-11 (63.6) at the foul line. BSU held the 11-6 edge in fastbreak points and were even in both bench points (8-8) and points in the paint (32-32).
With the win, Bemidji State continues to move closer to the eighth seed. Now at 8-10, the Beavers have played two more games than Sioux Falls, currently holding the eighth spot at 8-8. Seeds five through eight will host first round games of the NSIC Tournament.
Bemidji State will now be off until next Friday, Feb. 16 when they host Sioux Falls starting at 7:30 p.m. inside the BSU Gym.
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).
