BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Men's Basketball heads on the road Friday and Saturday to start the 2025-26 season at the Central Region Challenge in Pittsburg, Kan., hosted by Pittsburg State University. The Beavers will take on Henderson State University Friday and Southern Arkansas University Saturday, both at 11 a.m.
Last season, the Beavers split their trip to the Central Region Challenge, falling 74-68 to the University of Central Missouri and taking down University of Arkansas-Monticello 64-55. This weekend will be the second time the Beavers have met either CRC opponent in program history. In 2023, Bemidji State defeated Henderson, 76-63, for the first meeting of the two teams in history. The year prior, BSU took down SAU 82-79 in the American Family Insurance Classic in Duluth, Minn.
The Beavers return their top scorer, rebounder and assist earner from last season in senior guard
Tate Olson. Last year, Olson earned 11.8 points per game with the top field goal percentage at .498. Olson also marked an average of 8.8 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game. BSU's top three-point shooter,
John Pecarich, also returns after posting a .424 shooting percentage from the arc in his sophomore campaign.
In 2024-25, the Reddies marked a 17-13 overall record with a 12-10 record in the Great American Conference. They started their season with a loss to then No. 4 Minnesota State University Moorhead in the MIAA/NSIC Challenge. Making it to the GAC tournament in March, the Reddies found themselves in the semifinals after a win over Oklahoma Baptist University. HSU would fall in the semifinals to the top-ranked team in the GAC, Southern Nazarene University, falling 69-45.
The Reddies lost their top five scorers from last season, leaving now senior Xavier Owens at the top of the list of returners with 7.9 points per game last year. Owens marked a shooting percentage of .463 from the field and .257 from beyond the arc. In total, the Reddies return just four student-athletes while bringing in three Division I transfers and two from Division II programs, plus five true freshmen and four from junior college or international play.
The Muleriders began their season with an exhibition matchup against Houston Christian University, falling 74-70. On Friday, SAU will take on NSIC opponent Winona State University directly following BSU's first game of the Central Region Challenge. Last season, the Muleriders began their season against then No. 1 Minnesota State University Mankato in the same tournament.
In its Nov. 3 exhibition matchup at Houston Christian, Southern Arkansas shot at .373 percent from the field and .296 from the arc. The Muleriders' starting five led the scoring throughout the game with bench players grabbing just 14 points. Senior guard Greg Moore Jr. led the team with 20 points, shooting at .500 percent from the field on 12 attempts. Moore also led the team in turnovers with five and marking four steals. At the rim, Chase Jenkins led with eight total rebounds, matching his eight-point game, marking three offensive and five on defense.
Following this weekend, BSU returns home to host Oak Hills Christian College on Nov. 21 at 5:30 p.m. They'll then go back on the road to Duluth, Minn. to start Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with University of Minnesota Duluth Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. All NSIC games are available on the NSIC Network and 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 Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
