Northern State University shot 53.3 percent from the field to down the Bemidji State University men’s basketball team 70-55 Saturday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contest in Aberdeen. The loss dropped the Beaver record to 15-6 overall and 10-5 in NSIC play. Other losses around the NSIC this weekend actually moved the Beavers from a tie for third in the standings to sole possession of third.

The Beavers again started the game slow and the Wolves (12-7, 8-7 NSIC) jumped on the opportunity, as it opened a 10-2 lead four minutes into the contest and then a 20-4 advantage nine minutes into the game. Eight points from junior guard Dermaine Crockrell (Mesa, Ariz.) helped guide the Beavers back into the game, as the team posted a 15-5 run to make the score 25-19 with 3:21 remaining in the half. The Wolves regained a double-digit lead at 11 before Crockrell hit a jumper with eight seconds left in the half and the Beavers trailed 34-25 heading into the locker room.

NSU shot 56.5 percent from the field in the first half, while BSU posted a 34.8 percentage. Three of the eight shots the Beavers hit in the first half were from downtown. Crockrell had 10 points in the half

BSU again cut the deficit to six in the second half, as sophomore Jake Schalow (G, Kaukauna, Wis.) knocked down a 3-pointer to move the score to 39-33 with 15:55 left. The Wolves then posted a 11-2 run to open a 15 point lead at 50-35 with 12:22 remaining. The Beavers were able get the deficit to single digits on a sophomore Zach Noreen (F, Avon, Minn.) lay-up that put BSU down 52-43 with 10:10 remaining. That would be as close as the road team would get as NSU kept the Beavers at bey, en route to the 15 point victory.

Senior forward James Ellisor (Glendale, Ariz.) led the Beavers with 12 points and five rebounds, while Crockrell was held scoreless in the second half and Schalow closed the contest with 11 points. BSU finished the game shooting 33.3 percent from the field.

The Beavers close an NSIC three-game road trip Feb. 4 at University of Minnesota Duluth at 4 p.m.