Bemidji State hosts Augustana in first round of NSIC Tournament Tonight

Beavers host first round NSIC Tournament for first time since 2013

The fourth-seeded Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball team starts its post season with the fifth seed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division Augustana University, Wednesday at 6 p.m., in the BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers finished the season with the fourth seed in the NSIC North Division with a record of 18-10 overall and 13-9 in the conference.

The Series vs Augustana
· Augustana leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 17-6.
· The Beavers and Vikings last met Jan. 21, 2023, earlier this season, with an 89-85 win by BSU in Augustana, S.D.
· Augustana leads the series 6-4 when playing in Bemidji, Minn.
· BSU and AU first met Nov. 29, 2002, with a 74-70 win by the Vikings.

The Beavers ended the regular season with a big win against St. Cloud State University 99-81, while having their second-best shooting performance of the season. In their last game of the season, BSU fell 53-87 to University of Minnesota, Duluth.

The Beavers finish the season at 18-10, their best season since 2013-14 were the team when 18-9. Head coach Mike Boschee finished with his second-best record in his 11 years coaching.

At home BSU has put up great numbers with an 11-3 record to show, with one of the losses coming in overtime. The Beavers shot over 50% in nine of their home games.

Bemidji State had its best game from behind the arc against St. Cloud State shooting 15-for-23 (65.2%) from three with five student-athletes making three threes and RJ Smith and Johnny Tennyson both were perfect going 3-for-3.

All five starters finished in double figures in the win over the Huskies, Smith scored a season high 21 points in the game tied with Mohamed Kone for game leading scorer.

Jayce Lowman and Tennyson both reached double digits coming off the bench against UMD. Lowman led the team with 12 points all coming from three pointers.

John Sutherland pulled in 10 rebounds on the weekend improving to 224 on the season, eighth best in program history.

Sutherland is also on the verge of cracking into a top 10 scoring season for BSU, he currently sits at 502 points trailing 10th at 529 points. The most recent top 10 scorer was Brock Lutes with 574 points in the 2013-14 season.

The Beavers shot over 50% in 15 games this season with their season best shooting performance coming against SCSU last weekend at 60.7%. Bemidji State ranks 19th in Division II shooting 49.5 on the season.

Sutherland is leading the conference shooting 58.4% from the floor and is 33rd in the nation.

Bemidji State average 79.0 points per game, fourth best in the conference and allow 76.8 ppg, 12th in the NSIC.

The Beavers are 15th in turnovers and eighth in assist to turnover ratio with a 1.19 ratio.