Beavers set to host Wildcats and Vikings

Bemidji State looks to improve in NSIC standings with games against Wayne State and Augustana

Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball will host Wayne State College and Augustana University Friday and Saturday to start the 2025 portion of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

The Beavers hold a 25-31 record against the Wildcats with a 2-3 record in the last five games. Under Head Coach Mike Boschee, the Beavers have gone 8-7. Versus the Vikings, the Beavers are 9-18 in the all-time series. In the last five games, the Beavers have gone 3-2 including wins in the NSIC tournament in 2023 and taking down the then No. 21 Vikings in 2019.

The Beavers enter the weekend at 5-7 overall and 2-4 in the NSIC. Prior to winter break, BSU split a home-and-away weekend against St. Cloud State University and University of Mary. BSU grabbed a win over UMary with a 72-70 final score.

Close games have been a common theme for the Beavers this season with 25% of games ending with a final score deficit of three or less points. Of these four games, the Beavers have gone 2-2 with the two wins both ending at a score of 72-70.

Malang Athian holds the top scoring position for the Beavers with 149 points in 12 games, averaging 12.4 per game with the team’s top field-goal shooting percentage of .459. He also leads the team with a .778 free-throw percentage, making 28 of his 36 attempts this season and averaging three makes per game.

Tate Olson dominates the Beavers’ rebounding efforts with 100 rebounds in his 12 starts. Olson averages 8.3 per game with 7.6 on defense per game.

Following this weekend, the Beavers will have two weeks on the road, making stops in Mankato, Winona, Duluth and St. Paul, Minn. They’ll return to Bemidji on Jan. 24 and 25 to host Southwest Minnesota State University and University of Sioux Falls, respectively.