Bench scoring and 3-point shooting helped create the difference for Bemidji State University men’s basketball during a 78-67 win Saturday night at University of Mary at the McDowell Activity Center. The Beavers (7-12, 5-9 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) converted four more 3-pointers than the Marauders (8-12, 6-8 NSIC) to help seal a weekend road split.

BSU finished the night outscoring U-Mary from beyond the arc, 9-for-23 compared to 5-for-16 for the Marauders. The Beavers’ bench put in 32 points compared to 19 for the Marauders.

Junior guard Sharif Black, who scored a team-high 18 points on the night, began scoring for BSU with a 3-pointer to take a quick 3-0 lead. U-Mary followed with a 12-3 run while holding BSU to 1-for-13 shooting from the field during the five-minute stretch. Freshmen Jacob McNallan and Lucas Wendt helped tie the game at 12 before junior guard Christian Pekarek gave BSU its first lead, 19-18, since the first basket of the game with his first 3-pointer and field goal of the game.

Bemidji State hosts Concordia University-St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato Jan. 27-28 in its next weekend of action. The Beavers begin play Friday at 8 p.m. against the Golden Bears while closing the weekend against NSIC South opponents Saturday at 6 p.m. against the Mavericks.