Sophomore Jake Schalow (G, Kaukauna, Wis.) provided the first half spark off the bench for the Bemidji State University men’s basketball team Friday, as the Beavers downed University of Mary 72-65 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contest in Bismarck, N.D. Schalow had 15 points in the first half to help BSU move to 15-5 overall and 10-4 in NSIC play.
“I thought Schalow came in the first half and gave us some huge minutes and made some big baskets that stressed their defense out,” said head coach Matt Bowen. “The bench core of (David) Berthene, (Zach) Noreen and Schalow was huge tonight. If you add up those guys’ numbers that is 29 of our 72 points. We got down early, but were able to maintain our composure and once we got into a rhythm were able to get a lead.”
The Beavers shot 50.9 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from beyond the arc in the win that handed the program its first all-time win in Bismarck (1-6). The 50 percent shooting from the field marked the ninth time the team posted a shooting percentage above 50 percent and now have a 9-0 record when doing so. BSU forced 16 turnovers that it converted into 16 points, while the team (No. 3 nationally in turnovers per game – 10.7 TOpg) handed the ball over just eight times.
Senior forward James Ellisor (Glendale, Ariz.) guided the Beavers with 16 points on 7-for-14 (50%) shooting after starting 0-for-5. Schalow finished with 15 and sophomore David Berthene (F, Lakeville, Minn.) added 10 points off the bench. Senior Bryce Tesdahl (G, Crosby, Minn.) hit a couple key 3-pointers in the second half and finished with seven points, adding seven assists and six rebounds.
The Beavers have had a trend of starting slow and missing shots early the past few games, but playing stellar defense to stay in the contest. The bad habit continued against U-Mary Friday, as the team went 1-for-13 (7.7%) from the field and 0-for-6 from beyond the arc in the first seven minutes of the game, but were down just 7-2 with solid defense.
Schalow came off the bench to provide the spark for the Beavers, as he hit a couple 3-pointers to move the score to 14-10 in favor of the Marauders with 10:33 showing in the first half. The Beaver bench continued to grind and got the team back into the game with a 9-5 run behind five more points from Schalow and the team had their first lead at 19-18 with 7:07 remaining in the first half. A Berthene three gave BSU its largest lead of the game at 26-21 with 4:38 remaining in the half.
An 8-4 run by the Marauders cut their deficit to one at 30-29 with 1:50 remaining, but the Beavers closed the half with a 7-0 run and owned a 37-29 advantage heading into the locker room. Schalow finished the half shooting 5-for-5 from the field, 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the line to have a game-high 15 points. Ellisor didn’t get his first point until under four minutes to play in the half (0-for-5 up to that point), but added five points in the final two minutes to finish the half with seven. Despite starting ice cold the Beavers closed the half shooting 50 percent from the field, while holding U-Mary to 42.3 percent.
The second half has been good to the Beavers as of late and that continued in the win against U-Mary. The Beaver lead hit 10 for the first time with 16:34 remaining in the second half on an Ellisor lay-up. A jumper from junior Mason Walters (F, Milton, Wis.) pushed the lead to 12 at 15:56 and forced a Marauder timeout.
The Beavers lead went to 17 on Tesdahl’s first bucket of the game, – a 3-pointer – to give the road team a 54-37 lead with 13:24 left in the half. U-Mary chipped away at the deficit and got it to 10 at 57-47 with 9:52 remaining.
Bombs from beyond the arc from Tesdahl and Berthene on back-to-back possessions that sandwiched a steal from Ellisor handed the Beavers a 16 point lead at 65-49 with 7:13 remaining in the frame. A junior guard Dermaine Crockrell (Mesa, Ariz.) handed BSU a 20 point lead at 69-49 with 4:23 left in the game. A late flurry from the Marauders got them to a nine point deficit at 71-62 with 49 ticks left in the game, but it was too little, too late and the Beavers went on to gain the seven point victory.
The Beavers now head to Northern State University Saturday for an 8 p.m. contest.