Beavers travel to Central Region Challenge Friday and Saturday
BSU heads to Kansas City, Mo. to take on Central Missouri and Arkansas-Monticello at Central Region Challenge
Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball travels to Kansas City, Mo. Friday and Saturday to compete in the Central Region Challenge, hosted by Pittsburg State, kicking off the regular season for BSU. The Beavers are set to take on University of Central Missouri Friday and University of Arkansas-Monticello Saturday, both at 11 a.m.
This is the second year that the Beavers will appear in the Central Region Challenge. Last season, the Beavers split their series, defeating Henderson State University 76-63 and falling to Missouri Southern State University 69-61. This season, BSU takes on UCM who holds a 2-0 record over Bemidji State during the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament held in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. in 2016 and 2017. The UAM Boll Weevils and the Beavers have never met before.
BSU has appeared in one exhibition match this season, traveling to St. Paul, Minn. to play the University of Minnesota. In this match up, the Beavers held their own against their NCAA Division I opponent during the first half, marking just one point behind the Golden Gophers, but were tripped up in the second, falling 90-65.
Christian Koonce led the Beavers against the Gophers, marking 11 points with three rebounds and an assist. Just behind Koonce was Jalen Patterson grabbing 10 points and an offensive rebound.
Looking at last season, the Beavers were led by, now senior, forward John Sutherland. Sutherland tallied 559 total points with 235 field goals and 89 free throws. He ended the season second on the team, behind Dalton Albrecht, in rebounds with 222, 80 offensive and 142 defensive.
Returning guard Brayden Williams tallied the most made three-point shots of all returners, grabbing 41 on 111 attempts and marking 218 total points. Williams, along with classmate Tate Olson, led the Beavers in steals with 22 each.