Listen to the Archive of the Game Here
The guard trio of Sharif Black, Jai’Vionne Green and Christian Pekarek combined for over 60 points with at least 20 each as the Bemidji State University men’s basketball team took down Wayne State College, 91-70, Friday night at BSU Gymnasium. Large runs early in both the first and second half guided the Beavers (10-12, 7-10 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) to a weekend-opening win against the Wildcats (12-13, 7-10 NSIC).
After the Beavers trailed 9-4 three minutes into the game, they went hot from the field to go on a 26-4 run over a seven-minute span. Sophomore guard Jai’Vionne Green scored nine of his 16 first-half points during the stretch while the team went 10-for-11 from the field as a unit. Green scored five straight points late in the first half to give BSU its first 20-point lead of the night, 52-32, before heading into halftime with a 52-34 advantage.
Another large run built up BSU’s lead in the second half, as the Beavers went on a 15-4 stretch to build the game’s largest lead of the night, 67-38. After starting the half 0-for-2 from the field, BSU went a perfect 6-for-6 over the 4:16 span. Senior guards Sharif Black and Christian Pekarek each topped 20 points for the game with at least 10 points each in the second half. Green also reached the 20-point mark as BSU held an 85-62 advantage with under five minutes to play.
Black and Pekarek led the Beavers with 22 points each while Green added 20, as the duo combined for 64 of BSU’s 91 points. Green led the team with 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Black was one rebound shy of a double-double, while Pekarek and sophomore forward Logan Bader were two rebounds shy. Bader finished with 13 points as all five starters finished with double-figure scoring.
Bemidji State finished the game shooting 52 percent from the field, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 74 percent from the free throw line, while winning the rebound margin, 51-34. The Beavers totaled 36 points in the paint and dished out 16 assists on the night.
Bemidji State closes out the weekend at home Saturday with a 6 p.m. tip-off against Augustana University.