Beavers travel to Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota Duluth

Bemidji State opens three-game road trip at Golden Bears

The Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball team will open a three-game road trip this week traveling to Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota Duluth. The Beavers open the week on Friday at the Golden Bears at 7:30 p.m. and then play the Bulldogs on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Bemidji State (10-8, 6-6 NSIC) is 4-5 away from home this season, going 2-4 in true road contests. The Beavers lost both games last week at home against Augustana (98-77) and Wayne State (82-55). Prior to those two games, BSU cruised to the 93-58 win over Winona State.

Bemidji State is averaging 79.7 points and allowing 72.8 points. BSU is making 532-1,146 (46.4) from the field, 159-474 (33.5) from three and 211-306 (69) at the foul line. Opponents are making 494-1,107 (44.6) from the field, 126-401 (31.4) from three and 197-288 (68.4) at the foul line.

John Sutherland leads the way averaging 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 74 assists and has made 151 field goals, making 59 percent (151-256). Dalton Albrecht who recently eclipsed 1,000 career points is averaging 15.6 points and 10.3 rebounds. He is second on the team with 27 three-pointers and has made 103 field goals. BJ Davis is nearly averaging double-figures in scoring at 9.6, while adding 33 assists and a team-high 33 three-pointers. Brayden Williams adds 8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 39 assists and adds 24 three-pointers.

Head coach Mike Boschee is at 145 wins during his time at Bemidji State, putting him just three wins from becoming the winningest coach in program history. Sutherland’s 1,173 career points is currently 14th on the all-time program scoring list. His 528 rebounds ranks 10th in program history. Albrecht now has 1,004 career points and is just 53 points from moving to 19th on the program all-time scoring list. He is just seven rebounds away from 500. His 185 rebounds this season is just 27 rebounds away from 10th for rebounds in a single season in program history.

Bemidji State ranks high in the NSIC and nationally in several categories including first in the conference and 11th nationally in rebound margin (7.6), first in the NSIC in offensive rebounds per game (12.50). BSU is in the top-three in the NSIC in defensive rebounds per game (27.94), third in the conference and 31st nationally, and second in the NSIC and 20th nationally in rebounds per game (40.44).

Individually, Sutherland leads the NSIC and the nation in field goals (151). He ranks second in the NSIC in assists (74) and assists per game (4.1), and in offensive rebounds per game (2.94). Sutherland is 26th nationally in points (353). Albrecht leads the NSIC in double-doubles (9), which ranks fifth nationally, rebounds (185), sixth nationally, defensive rebounds per game (7.22), eighth nationally and offensive rebounds per game (3.06), which is 32nd nationally.

Entering the week in the NSIC standings, Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead are tied for first at 11-1. Minot State is third at 10-2. Minnesota Duluth is fourth at 8-4. Southwest Minnesota State is currently fifth at 7-5, with Augustana a half-game behind in sixth at 7-6. Bemidji State and Sioux Falls are tied for seventh both at 6-6. Winona State and Northern State are a game back of both at 5-7.

Concordia-St. Paul is 8-10 overall and 3-9 in NSIC play. The Golden Bears are 5-3 at home this season. Last week, CSP lost a couple of close games to Northern State (94-89) in overtime and MSU Moorhead (79-72), both on the road. The Golden Bears have lost three straight since defeating UMary on Jan. 6 (84-76).

The Golden Bears are averaging 81.3 points and allowing 83.7 points. CSP is making 500-1,099 (45.5) from the field, 169-481 (35.1) from three and 295-401 (73.6) at the foul line. Opponents are making 549-1,202 (45.7) from the field, 118-352 (33.5) from three and 290-395 (73.4) at the foul line.

Jordan Horn leads the way averaging 20.5 points and 5.9 rebounds, making 35 three-pointers. He has only played 10 games this season. Antwan Kimmons is second on the team averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds but hasn’t played since Dec. 16. Marcus Skeete has played all but one game this season, averaging 15.2 points and 6.5 rebounds. Japannah Kellogg has played every game this season averaging 9.8 points and 6.6 rebounds.

Bemidji State is 20-18 in the series against Concordia-St. Paul since 2000 and split the two meetings last year. The Beavers won in Bemidji (88-71) but lost the non-conference game in St. Paul (77-76). BSU is 6-13 on the road in the series.

To close the week, the Beavers will travel to Duluth to face the Bulldogs. Minnesota Duluth is currently receiving votes in the latest NABC National Poll holding a 13-5 overall record and 8-4 mark in NSIC play. UMD is 4-1 at home. This past week, Minnesota Duluth split the games defeating Northern State (96-72), but fell just short the game before that at MSU Moorhead (62-58).

The Bulldogs average 80.9 points and allow 68.8. UMD is making 539-1,095 (49.2) from the field, 115-353 (32.6) from three and 264-385 (68.6) at the foul line. Opponents are making 443-1,075 (41.2) from the field, 111-396 (28) from three and 242-332 (72.9) at the foul line.

Drew Blair leads the way averaging 19.8 points and 5.3 rebounds, making 123 field goals and 41 three-pointers. He also has 38 assists and 24 steals. Charlie Katona averages 12.8 points and five rebounds, making 53.8 percent from the field (84-156). Joshua Brown is at 10.9 points and Austin Andrews tallied 10.3 points.

Minnesota Duluth leads the series 94-51 against Bemidji State and have won the last five meetings. Last year, the teams played twice with UMD winning in Bemidji (83-68) and then in Duluth (87-53). The last win for the Beavers was in 2021 claiming the 96-77 win in Bemidji. The last win in Duluth was in 2016 (75-73). BSU is 20-47 on the road in the series.

Following the road games this week, Bemidji State will play at Minot State (Feb. 1) and then host MSU Moorhead (Feb. 3).