ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Bemidji State University Men's Basketball (1-1) lost to Emporia State University (2-0) 72-68 on Saturday at MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo. Bemidji State committed 17 turnovers and was outscored 23-4 in points off turnovers.
Bemidji State took a 28-24 halftime lead after
JP Musoke hit a jumper at the buzzer, answering a late Emporia St. push that had cut the margin to 26-24 with 25 seconds left. Earlier, after falling behind 4-2, Bemidji St. held Emporia St. without a score for eight straight possessions from 17:50 to 14:01;
Dominic Fairbanks turned a steal into a fast-break layup to tie it, and
John Pecarich followed with a layup off
Tate Olson's assist for a 6-4 lead. Emporia St. later tied the game at 15 and again at 17, but Olson answered the first tie with a layup, and after the second,
Jouk Mayan hit a 3-pointer before blocking a shot that preceded Pecarich's fast-break 3-pointer for a 23-17 Bemidji St. lead at 3:09. Bemidji St. closed the half with 10 assists on 12 made baskets and a 21-18 rebounding edge.
Early in the second half, Bemidji St. hit five 3-pointers in a 3:19 span, with Pecarich making three around makes by
Eddie Jallow Hedqvist and Fairbanks to move ahead 45-36 with 15:04 left. Emporia St. answered and moved in front 49-48 at 11:43, but
Isaac Severts tied it off an assist from Olson on Bemidji St.'s next possession. After Emporia St. led 56-51, Bemidji St. responded with two Olson layups and a Musoke layup before Olson made two free throws for a 59-58 lead at 4:55. Musoke's dunk made it 67-65 and Pecarich's 3-pointer cut it to 69-68 with 25 seconds left, but Emporia St. made late free throws after a Bemidji St. turnover and finished a 72-68 result.
Pecarich scored 23 points and hit six 3-pointers on 8-for-14 shooting. Olson finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists while converting 7 of 8 free throws. Fairbanks recorded three steals and added five points.
Bemidji St. is 1-1 overall and kicks off the home portion of the schedule Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. against Concordia College. Emporia St. is 2-0 overall.
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).
