Beavers continue homestand hosting Augustana and Wayne State this week

Bemidji State is 6-1 at home this season

The Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball team nearly made it a weekend sweep last time out after going to overtime with Minnesota State. The Beavers rolled to the 35-point win over Winona State last time out and will look to carry that momentum into a pair of home games this week facing Augustana on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Wayne State on Saturday starting at 5:30 p.m. in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

Bemidji State (10-6, 6-4 NSIC) enters the week 6-1 at home and are fifth in the NSIC standings, sitting one game back of Minnesota Duluth for fourth and a half-game ahead of Southwest Minnesota State in sixth. Minnesota State remains in the top spot at 10-0, with MSU Moorhead in second at 9-1. Minot State is third at 8-2, just ahead of UMD in fourth at 7-3.

It was a wild past weekend for the Beavers after pushing the Mavericks into overtime before falling short by two. BSU rebounded strong with a dominating 93-58 win over Winona State.

Bemidji State averages 81.4 points and allows 70.7 points. The Beavers are making 484-1,026 (47.2) from the field, 145-426 (34) from three and 189-272 (69.5) at the foul line. Opponents are 424-976 (43.4) from the field, 112-361 (31) from three and 171-258 (66.3) at the foul line.

John Sutherland continues to lead the team in points per game (20.3), field goals (139), shooting percentage (59.1), assists (64), blocks (7) and is tied for the team lead in free throws made (46). He adds 8.3 rebounds per contest. Dalton Albrecht continues to average a double-double with 16.1 points and 10.7 rebounds. He is approaching 100 field goals made sitting at 93 and is shooting almost 46 percent (93-203) from the field. His 25 three-pointers is second on the team. BJ Davis is now averaging in double-figures at 10.1 per game, along with 29 assists and is shooting over 45 percent (47-104) from the field. He leads the team with 31 three-pointers, making over 50 percent (31-61) from downtown.

Head coach Mike Boschee collected win number 145 at Bemidji State on Saturday, putting him just three wins from becoming the winningest coach in program history. Sutherland’s 1,144 career points is currently 15th on the all-time program scoring list. His 519 rebounds ranks 10th in program history. Albrecht is just 20 points away from 1,000 career points sitting at 980. He is just 21 rebounds away from 500, entering the week at 479. Albrecht’s 171 season rebounds are approaching the top 10 list for single season rebounding numbers. Currently No. 10 on the list is at 212.

Bemidji State leads the NSIC in rebound margin, which ranks fourth nationally (9.2), and offensive rebounds per game (12.31). BSU ranks second or third in the conference or several other categories coming in second in the NSIC in assists per game (16.6), second and 10th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (29.19), second and 15th nationally in rebounds per game (41.50).

Individually, Sutherland leads the NSIC and is 34th nationally in field goal percentage (59.1), and is back as the national leader in field goals made (139). He also is among the national leaders in points (324), 19th nationally, points per game (20.3), 33rd nationally, rebounds (132), 31st nationally, offensive rebounds per game (3.06), 34th nationally. Albrecht added another double-double for his ninth this season to continue to lead the NSIC and is third nationally, just two from tying for first. He also leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game (7.56), fourth nationally, offensive rebounds per game (3.13) to rank 31st nationally and in rebounds per game (10.7) to rank eighth nationally.

First up will be Augustana. The Vikings are 10-7 overall and 5-6 in NSIC play, having won three straight. They hold a 7-2 record away from home, going 5-2 in true road contests. This past week, Auggie cruised to the 94-65 road win at Northern State and won by 33 the game before at UMary. Their last loss was at home on Jan. 5 to MSU Moorhead (83-74). Augustana is averaging 79.3 points and allowing 73.7 points per game. They make 498-1,082 (46) from the field, 130-363 (35.8) from three and 222-283 (78.4) at the foul line. Opponents are making 438-974 (45) from the field, 123-381 (32.3) from three and 254-311 (81.7) at the foul line.

Isaac Fink leads the team averaging 17.9 points and 7.5 rebounds. Jadan Graves is at 15 points and adds 65 assists. Arhman Lewis (8.7) and Akoi Akoi (8.4) are both over eight points per contest.

Augustana is 17-7 against Bemidji State since 2002, with the Beavers winning the last two matchups. Last year, the teams played twice. The first meeting in Sioux Falls BSU was able to hold off Auggie to win by four (89-85). The second meeting was in the first round of the NSIC Tournament that was played in Bemidji and was another close game with the Beavers claiming the four-point win (92-88). BSU is 5-6 at home in the series, winning two of the last three meetings in Bemidji.

To close the week and the homestand, Bemidji State will face Wayne State on Saturday. The Wildcats are 1—7 overall and 4-7 in NSIC play, currently on a two-game winning streak. They’ve gone 5-3 away from home and 2-3 in true road games. This past week, Wayne State won a tight 70-69 game at Northern State and then cruised to the 73-53 win at UMary. Their last loss was also to MSU Moorhead at home on Jan. 6 (80-68).

Wayne State is averaging 76 points and allowing 67.9 points per game. WSC makes 501-1,077 (46.5) from the field, 122-351 (34.8) from three and 244-322 (75.8) at the foul line. Opponents are making 423-1,001 (42.3) from the field, 132-394 (33.5) from three and 245-344 (71.2) at the foul line.

Trey Deveaux leads the team averaging 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds. Alec Millender adds 12.1 points and 62 assists. David Harmon is at 11.7 points and 24 three-pointers.

Wayne State holds the 30-25 series advantage against Bemidji State since 1973 with the Beavers winning the last meeting. Last year, the teams split the series with Wayne State winning at home by a score of 68-53. The teams then played in the second round of the NSIC Tournament at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls with BSU claiming the 79-71 victory. The Beavers are 15-13 at home in the series during that time in Bemidji.