BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball (6-12, 3-10 NSIC) fell to
Concordia University, St. Paul (13-6, 8-5 NSIC) 99-95 on Friday night at BSU
Gymnasium. The Beavers recorded 14 three-pointers, but the Golden Bears’ 54-point
second half secured the victory.

Bemidji State opened with a scoring drive as Dominic Fairbanks hit a jumper to set
the pace early. The team’s offense was efficient, with Austin Josephson contributing
critical defensive stops including a block, while also scoring on a layup. They went
on to secure a lead with a string of successful field goals, including
three-pointers from Fairbanks and John Pecarich, bolstering the team’s momentum.

As the half progressed, Bemidji State maintained its edge through consistent scoring
and defensive rebounds, led by Fairbanks and Hedqvist. Despite the Golden Bears
closing the gap with fast breaks, the Beavers held their footing, punctuated by a
layup from Eddie Jallow Hedqvist in the final minute. The first half closed with the
Beavers leading 49-45, setting a strong foundation for the game.

Bemidji State began the second half with a narrow lead, but the half saw momentum
shifts throughout. The Beavers maintained their advantage early with Pecarich
hitting multiple 3-pointers, including one at 18:48 to widen the gap. Concordia-St.
Paul responded with a strong inside game, eventually narrowing the lead.

Midway through the half, Bemidji St. capitalized on free throws, with Pecarich
converting three in a row at 11:36, keeping the score in their favor. However,
Concordia-St. Paul continued to press, and Ben Kopetzki’s 3-pointer at 10:58 further
closed the gap.

In the final minutes, the game remained tense. Although Hedqvist and Pecarich
continued to score from beyond the arc, CSP managed to pull ahead with a series of
free throws. With Concordia-St. Paul leading 96-89, despite a late push from
Bemidji St. that included a 3-pointer by Pecarich at the final buzzer, ending the
half 99-95 in favor of CSP.

John Pecarich led the team with a career-high 47 points, setting the program’s
single-game scoring record. He connected on 9 of 13 from beyond the arc, tying the
program’s single-game three-pointers made record, and converting all 12 free throw
attempts, setting the program’s single-game free-throw percentage record. Fairbanks
added 14 points, including three successful 3-pointers, and dished out three
assists. Hedqvist contributed 11 points and recorded two assists. Josephson posted a
perfect field goal percentage, scoring 9 points and recording four blocks.

The Beavers are currently 6-12 overall and 3-10 in NSIC play. The Golden Bears stand
at 13-6 overall and 8-5 in the NSIC. In their next game, the Beavers will host
Winona State University on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at BSU
Gymnasium in Bemidji, Minnesota.

BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball (6-13, 3-11 NSIC) fell to
Winona State University (6-13, 5-9 NSIC) 86-83 in a closely contested conference
matchup on Saturday at BSU Gymnasium. The game had strong playoff implications with
WSU ranked one spot above BSU, so the Beavers will now work to improve their
standing in order to make the conference tournament in one month.

Bemidji State opened the first half with efforts to establish rhythm but faced an
early 7–0 deficit against Winona State. Henry Shannon III’s defensive block at 16:38
was a notable moment that helped stabilize the game. A fast-break layup by Nathan
Fenske at 13:09 trimmed the gap to 14–8, showing promise in their transition play.

Throughout the half, the Beavers tied the score at 19 with 8:30 remaining, led by
Eddie Jallow Hedqvist’s 3-pointer at 7:30. Hedqvist was on fire, making 8 field
goals, which surpassed his season average of 3.44. However, the Warriors’ scoring in
the paint proved challenging, and despite John Pecarich’s effort to keep the score
close with a key 3-pointer at 3:45, the half ended with Bemidji State trailing
36–30.

Bemidji State began the second half with a strong defensive presence, highlighted by
Pecarich’s early steal at 19:19. The team capitalized on multiple scoring
opportunities, with Pecarich contributing significantly with a successful 3-pointer
at 16:49. Pecarich’s performance was noteworthy as he recorded at least 26 total
points in 2 consecutive games, averaging 36.5 per game this weekend. Despite facing
pressure from Winona State, the Beavers managed to keep the score close, thanks to
Shannon III’s effective play, including a layup at 11:52 that narrowed the gap.

In the latter part of the half, Bemidji State continued to fight back as they
exchanged leads with Winona State. A critical turnover by the Warriors at 10:26
allowed the Beavers to regain momentum, with Fenske quickly turning it into a
scoring opportunity. As the clock wound down, Hedqvist’s 3-pointer at 1:10 tied the
game, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion. With only seven seconds left,
Shannon III executed a crucial layup to tie the game once more at 73-73. The half
ended with the score level, showcasing a tenacious effort by Bemidji State to
maintain parity heading into the next phase.

The extra period opened with the Beavers maintaining a narrow lead, highlighted by
Pecarich’s layup at 4:40, extending the score to 75–73 in favor of the home team. As
the game progressed, the Beavers managed to stay competitive with key plays,
including a crucial 3-pointer by Dominic Fairbanks at 2:48, assisted by Isaac
Severts, bringing the score to 80–77.

The period’s momentum shifted several times, with Bemidji State responding to the
Warriors’ free throws with a 3-pointer by Hedqvist at 0:46, briefly reclaiming a
one-point lead at 83–82. However, the Warriors capitalized on late free throws and a
layup to edge ahead. The period concluded with the Beavers trailing by three, 86–83.

Pecarich led the Beavers with 26 points, including six 3-pointers, and added three
assists. Hedqvist contributed 22 points, also sinking six 3-pointers, and recorded
two assists. Shannon posted 14 points and collected 10 rebounds while blocking five
shots. Fenske added five points and recorded two steals.

Bemidji State holds a 6-13 overall record and is 3-11 in NSIC play. Winona State
currently stands at 6-13 overall, with a 5-9 record in the NSIC. In their next
matchup, the Beavers will travel to face Augustana University on Friday, Jan. 30.
The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.