BSU Men’s Basketball to host UMary on Thursday and play at St. Cloud State on Saturday before winter break

The Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball team will wrap up the 2023 calendar year this coming week hosting UMary on Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. and then traveling to St. Cloud State on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.

Bemidji State (6-4, 2-2 NSIC) ran into a couple of tough road challenges this past week falling at MSU Moorhead and Northern State. The Beavers came close against nationally-ranked MSU Moorhead before falling by eight. Hot shooting Northern State used 14 three-pointers to defeat BSU on Saturday night.

Bemidji State is averaging 79.6 points per game and allowing 65.9 points per game. BSU is 310-658 (47.1) from the field, 85-273 (31.1) from three and 91-150 (60.7) at the foul line. Opponents are making 244-580 (42.1) from the field, 61-198 (30.8) from three and 110-159 (69.2) at the foul line.

John Sutherland is close to averaging a double-double at 21.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He also has 36 assists and is shooting over 60 percent from the field. Dalton Albrecht added another double-double this week and enters the games this week averaging 16.8 points and 11.1 rebounds. He is making nearly 50 percent from the field and has 16 three-pointers, good for second on the team. Brayden Williams averages 8.1 points and leads the team with 18 three-pointers.

Bemidji State enters the week leading the NSIC in rebound margin (12.1), which is second nationally, defensive rebounds per game (29.7), which is 12th nationally, offensive rebounds per game (13.6), which is 30th nationally, and rebounds per game (43.3), to rank eighth nationally, scoring defense (65.9), which is 24th nationally. BSU is second in the NSIC in assists per game (15.6) and third in scoring margin (13.7), which is 26th nationally.

Individually, Sutherland leads the NSIC and the nation in field goals made (95), first in the conference and ninth nationally in points (211), first in the conference and 38th nationally in field goal percentage (60.5), second in the NSIC and 27th nationally in points per game (21.1), second in the conference and 12th nationally in rebounds (94), third in the NSIC and 24th nationally in rebounds per game (3.5), second in the NSIC and 22nd nationally in rebounds per game (9.4), second in the conference and 12th nationally in double-doubles (4), and third in the conference and 24th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (3.50).

Albrecht leads the NSIC and the nation in double-doubles (7), first in the conference and second nationally in rebounds (111), first in the conference and eighth nationally in defensive rebounds per game (7.50), first in the NSIC and 19th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (3.60), and first in the NSIC and seventh in rebounds per game (11.).

First up will be a home matchup with UMary. The Marauders are 5-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play. UMary split this past week defeating Minnesota Crookston before falling to Minot State on Saturday. They will host St. Cloud State on Tuesday before facing the Beavers.

UMary averages 72.7 points and allows 73.9 points per game. The Marauders make 244-545 (44.8) from the field, 63-174 (36.2) from three and 103-176 (58.5) at the foul line. Opponents are making 249-546 (45.6) from the field, 83-213 (39) from three and 84-127 (66.1) at the foul line.

Gerald Gittens leads the team averaging 14.1 points, 27 assists and is tied for the team lead in steals with 10. Zyon Smith tallies 12.4 points per game, along with 5.1 rebounds. Brock Heffner gives UMary three in double-figures in scoring at 11.9 and has 5.6 rebounds. Xavier Lewis leads the team with 7.8 rebounds and adds 8.8 points per contest.

UMary leads the series 19-16 since 1971, with Bemidji State winning the last two meetings. The teams played twice last year with the Beavers winning in Bemidji (77-67) and then in Bismarck in February (90-71). BSU is 8-10 at home against the Marauders during that span. This will be the only meeting of the season between the teams.

To close the week, BSU will travel to St. Cloud State on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies are 4-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play. They will face UMary on Tuesday before playing the Beavers on Saturday. St. Cloud State has lost three straight, but each game was close. After falling to Minot State by five, the Huskies lost by six at Northern State and then by a point at MSU Moorhead.

St. Cloud State averages 69.3 points per game and allows 71.1 points per game. SCSU makes 199-477 (41.7) from the field, 63-186 (33.9) from three and 93-132 (70.5) at the foul line. Opponents are making 196-437 (44.9) from the field, 67-169 (39.6) from three and 110-164 (67.1) at the foul line.

Luke Taylor leads the team averaging 12.4 points and adds 5.1 rebounds per game. Lucas Morgan tallies 10.9 points and seven rebounds per game. Matt Willert and Anish Ramlall both average in double-figures with Willert at 10.8 points and Ramlall at 10.6.

St. Cloud State leads the series 103-53 since 1922 with the Beavers winning the most recent game. The teams played in February with BSU cruising to the 99-81 victory. The teams split last year’s meetings with SCSU winning at home by a score of 81-70. That win by SCSU snapped a six-game winning streak for the Beavers. St. Cloud State is 43-31 in Bemidji during that span. This will be the only meeting of the season between the teams.

Following the games this week, Bemidji State will be off until Jan. 5 when they will play at Southwest Minnesota State.