ST. PAUL, Minn. – Bemidji State University Men's Basketball fell to RV Concordia University, St. Paul 70-68 on Saturday at the Gangelhoff Center in Saint Paul, MN.
 
In the first half of the game, Concordia-St. Paul took an early lead with a 7-0 run, but Bemidji State responded with a timeout and Daxton Dayley's 3-pointer at 17:40 to start closing the gap. John Pecarich's scoring surge, including a 3-pointer and a layup, helped Bemidji State catch up, tying the game at 23-23. As the half progressed, Bemidji State's John Sutherland contributed significantly with multiple successful layups and dunks, keeping the score close despite CSP's brief lead. By the end of the half, Bemidji State trailed the Golden Bears 38-31.
 
Bemidji State's second half saw significant contributions from John Sutherland, who scored consecutively with a jumper at 18:05 and later added a dunk, followed by another jumper at 7:30. This performance was part of Sutherland's season-high 23 points. Tate Olson's performance included a key jumper at 11:45 and a tip-in with just over two minutes left, contributing to Bemidji State's 37-point effort in the half. The team demonstrated resilience, narrowing the gap with a series of 3-pointers in the final minutes, including a crucial shot by Olson with 1:15 remaining, but ultimately fell short as CSP edged out with a 70-68 final score.
 
Several players from the Bemidji State basketball team showed noteworthy performances in their recent game. John Pecarich led the team with 21 points, hitting 8 of 13 shots from the field, including two 3-pointers. He also contributed significantly with six assists. John Sutherland was another standout player, scoring a team-high 23 points with an impressive 11 field goals made and dishing out seven assists. Tate Olson made a notable impact on the boards, leading the team with 15 total rebounds, including 11 defensive boards. Jareon Mayo was active defensively with two steals, while Daxton Dayley was perfect from beyond the arc, making all three of his 3-point attempts for a total of nine points. 
 
Bemidji State holds an overall record of six wins and 12 losses, with a conference record of three wins and nine losses in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). CSP has an overall record of 14 wins and four losses, and they have achieved nine wins and three losses in NSIC play.
 
Bemidji State will look to rebound from their recent loss as they face Southwest Minnesota State University. The game is scheduled for January 24, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. and will take place at BSU Gymnasium.
 
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).