BSU Men’s Basketball hits the road to face No. 5/7 MSU Moorhead and Northern State this week

Beavers swept last week’s NSIC games to start at 2-0 for first time since 2013-14

It was a strong start to the conference slate for the Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball team defeating both Minot State and Minnesota Crookston. The Beavers will now take that momentum on the road this week playing at No. 5 MSU Moorhead on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Northern State on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

Last time out, Bemidji State (6-2, 2-0 NSIC) picked up the buzzer-beating win against Minnesota Crookston. Trailing by one, BJ Davis was able to find John Sutherland for the winning layup with just 0.4 seconds remaining. To start last week, Bemidji State defeated Minot State by a score of 88-77.

Sutherland was named NSIC Player of the Week after averaging 21.5 points and 12 rebounds, while shooting over 54 percent and had a double-double in both games.

This is the first time Bemidji State has started conference play 2-0 since the 2013-14 team started that season 3-0. That team started 6-1 overall.

Bemidji State is averaging 81.8 points and allowing 61.6 points per game. BSU makes 250-537 (46.6) from the field, 73-234 (31.2) from three and 81-135 (60) at the foul line. Opponents are making 189-459 (41.2) from the field, 37-147 (25.2) from three and 78-117 (66.7) at the foul line.

Sutherland leads the team averaging 21.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. He is making almost 63 percent (76-121) from the field and has 26 assists and four steals. Dalton Albrecht is averaging a double-double with 16.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. He is making 46 percent (46-100) from the field and has 15 three-pointers. Brayden Williams is close to double-figures in scoring at 9.1 per game, while adding 4.0 rebounds, 19 assists and eight steals. Colin Schaefer has a team-high 29 assists, along with eight points per game. John Pecarich (7.5), Johnny Tennyson (7.1), Daxton Dayley (7.0) and Jobe Juenemann (7.0) all average at least seven points per game.

Bemidji State leads the NSIC in rebound margin (14.4), which also leads the nation, offensive rebounds per game (15), which ranks 12th nationally, rebounds per game (45.38), which is fifth nationally and in three-point percentage on defense (25.2), which is fifth nationally. BSU ranks second in the NSIC in assists per game (16.2), defensive rebounds per game (30.38), which is eighth nationally, in scoring defense points per game allowed (61.6), which ranks 11th nationally, and scoring margin (20.1), to rank 13th nationally.

Individually, Sutherland leads the NSIC in field goals made (76), which is second nationally, field goal percentage (62.8), which ranks 33rd nationally. Sutherland is 19th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (3.62), 20th in overall rebounds (73), and 37th in rebounds per game (9.1). Albrecht leads the NSIC and is tied for the national lead in double-doubles with six. He also leads the NSIC in overall rebounds (95), which is third nationally, defensive rebounds per game (7.75), to come in seventh nationally, offensive rebounds per game (4.12), good for ninth nationally and in rebounds per game (11.9), which ranks second nationally. Schaefer is third in the NSIC and 36th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.90).

BSU will open the week playing at No. 5/7 MSU Moorhead on Friday. The Dragons are off to an 8-0 start and 2-0 mark in conference play. They defeated Northern State (86-76) and UMary (95-55) this past week.

MSU Moorhead is averaging 85.3 points and allowing 73 points per game. The Dragons are making 241-506 (47.6) from the field, 53-145 (36.6) from three and 147-206 (71.4) at the foul line. Opponents are making 219-485 (45.2) from the field, 48-136 (35.3) from three and 98-150 (65.3) at the foul line.

Jacob Beeninga leads the team averaging 21.4 points and has connected on 22 three-pointers. Jamir Price adds 14.1 points and a team-best 22 assists. Dane Zimmer and Ja’Kair Sanchez add 11.1 points per game. Zimmer leads the team with 8.3 rebounds per game.

MSU Moorhead is 86-56 in the series since 1950 and won the most recent meeting. That most recent meeting was a wild one-point game that the Dragons won in the NSIC Tournament hitting the winning shot at the buzzer. The game prior to that was played in Bemidji in February of this year that BSU won by a point. MSU Moorhead won the first of three meetings last year in Moorhead by a score of 75-49. The Dragons are 49-19 at home during the series. The two teams will see each other again on Feb. 3 in Moorhead.

Bemidji State will close the trip at Nothern State on Saturday. The Wolves are 3-5 overall and 1-1 in NSIC play. NSU opened NSIC play defeating UMary (90-74) back on Nov. 21 and then fell last time out against MSU Moorhead on Nov. 30 (86-76).

Northern State is averaging 78.3 points and allowing 72.8 points per game. The Wolves are making 236-515 (45.8) from the field, 76-228 (33.3) from three and 78-109 (71.6) at the foul line. Opponents are making 215-473 (45.5) from the field, 50-144 (34.7) from three and 102-138 (73.9) at the foul line.

Jackson Moni leads the team averaging 19.1 points and 6.1 rebounds, along with 24 assists. Josh Dilling is at 19.0 points and 4.4 rebounds, while leading the team with 33 assists. Augustin Reede is next on the team in scoring at 9.6 per game.

Northern State leads the series 71-27 since 1959 and have won the last 12 meetings. Last year, Northern State won 85-63 in Bemidji and then 89-67 in Aberdeen. The Wolves are 39-9 in Aberdeen in the series. The last win for the Beavers was during the 2016-17 season picking up the 63-59 win in Aberdeen. These two teams will matchup again on Feb. 6 back in Bemidji.

Live video and stats will be available, along with Beaver Radio Network calling the action. Live video can be found here, live stats can be found here for MSU Moorhead and here for Northern State. Beaver Radio Network broadcast can be found here.

After this week, the Beavers will have two more games left in 2023. BSU will host UMary on Dec. 14 and then play at St. Cloud State on Dec. 16.