Beaver Fever Friday - Nate Fenske - @BSUBeaversMBB

BSU heads on the road for pair of NSIC matches Beavers look to extend wins into first full road weekend of NSIC play Bemidji State University Men's Basketball heads on the road Thursday and Saturday for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchups. BSU will play University of Jamestown at 5:30 p.m. Thursday followed by Northern State University Saturday at 4 p.m. The Beavers sit at an even 4-4 overall record with a 1-2 record in the NSIC. They hold fifth in the Northern Division, one space above Thursday's competition, Jamestown. Last weekend, the Beavers split their home-and-home series with a loss against Minnesota State University Moorhead, 90-60, followed by a win over University of Minnesota Crookston, 87-77. JAMESTOWN, N.D. — Bemidji State University (4-5, 1-3 NSIC) fell to the University of Jamestown (4-6, 2-2 NSIC) in a closely contested match, 98-94, after an overtime period at Harold Newman Arena on Thursday night. Bemidji State recorded 10 blocks in the game, but it was not enough to overcome the Jimmies' 18 three-pointers. Bemidji State opened the first half with strong offensive execution, marked by a 3-pointer from Eddie Jallow Hedqvist at 17:52, which tied the game early on. Austin Josephson's defensive prowess contributed with six blocks, helping maintain momentum and limiting the Jimmies' scoring opportunities. John Pecarich fueled the offense with multiple successful shots, including a 3-pointer at 13:00, which helped the Beavers gradually build their lead. This was the third game in the past five that Pecarich scored 30 or more points, demonstrating his consistency and offensive power. The team's effective ball movement was evident with six assists, including a crucial one from Dominic Fairbanks to Josephson for a dunk at 2:13. Bemidji State closed the half with a buzzer-beater 3-pointer from Jallow Hedqvist, extending the lead to 38-30 over Jamestown. The second half commenced with the Beavers' Josephson assisting Fairbanks for a crucial 3-pointer at 18:21, maintaining a narrow lead. Despite turnovers, Bemidji State's defense held firm, with Henry Shannon III contributing a key layup at 15:27 and later blocking a shot at 4:14. The team regained momentum as Jallow Hedqvist connected on a 3-pointer at 4:26. As the half neared its conclusion, Pecarich's layup at 55 seconds put Bemidji State ahead. However, Jamestown equalized moments later with free throws, and a final turnover by Pecarich at 20 seconds allowed Jamestown to tie the game 73–73. The second half ended with Bemidji State and the Jimmies deadlocked, setting the stage for a tense finish. The extra period began with Bemidji State's Pecarich hitting a crucial 3-pointer at 2:09 to level the score at 76-76. Despite a back-and-forth exchange, including a tip-in by Jamestown's Thomas Diew, Bemidji State responded with Jallow Hedqvist's jumper with 1:01 remaining, tying the score again at 78-78. In the final seconds, Jallow Hedqvist connected on another jumper, leveling the score at 80-80. Shannon contributed with a pivotal block at the buzzer, preventing the Jimmies from securing a last-second win. The extra period concluded with both teams tied at 80-80. Bemidji State opened overtime with a quick momentum shift as Pecarich's free throw tied the game at 81, followed by Josephson's tip-in to take the lead. Jallow Hedqvist extended the advantage with a 3-pointer at 3:51, assisted by Shannon, pushing the score to 86-80. Jallow Hedqvist continued to contribute with a jumper, increasing the margin to eight points. Jamestown responded with a late surge, including a 3-pointer by Cole Glasgow, narrowing the gap to 89-86. Despite Jamestown's efforts, Bemidji State maintained composure, with Fairbanks' free throw making it 90-88. As the clock wound down, Anthony Walters' layup for the Jimmies tied the game at 90 with 10 seconds left. Bemidji State's final attempt missed, and overtime concluded in a 90-90 tie, sending the game into another overtime. Bemidji State began the additional overtime by quickly trying to close the gap with a defensive rebound by Fairbanks at 4:23. Despite efforts to capitalize, the team faced a scoring challenge, missing several opportunities in the paint. Jamestown managed to slightly extend their lead with successful free throws by Davis Walker at 4:13, putting the Beavers at a disadvantage early in the half. Midway through the extra frame, Bemidji State's Fairbanks made a jumper at 2:43, keeping the team within reach. Pecarich contributed with another jumper at 1:57, bringing the score to 94-96. Despite a critical defensive stop with a steal by Pecarich at the 30-second mark, Bemidji State couldn't convert on subsequent possessions. As overtime closed, Bemidji State fought hard but was unable to overcome Jamestown's late free throws. With missed opportunities in the final seconds, Bemidji State ended overtime trailing, with the final score at 98-94. Pecarich scored 32 points and collected seven rebounds, leading the offensive efforts. Jallow Hedqvist added 26 points, including five 3-pointers, contributing significantly from beyond the arc. Shannon recorded 12 rebounds and blocked four shots, dominating the defensive side. Josephson posted 13 rebounds and also blocked four shots, showcasing strong presence in the paint. The Beavers hold a record of 4-5 overall and 1-3 in NSIC play. The Jimmies are currently 4-6 overall with a 2-2 record in NSIC competition. Looking ahead, Bemidji State will face Northern State University on Saturday, Dec. 13. The game will take place at 4 p.m. in Aberdeen, South Dakota. ABERDEEN, S.D. — Bemidji State University Men’s Basketball (5-5, 2-3 NSIC) secured a narrow victory over Northern State University (2-8, 2-3 NSIC) with a final score of 66-63 on Saturday at Wachs Arena. The Beavers outscored the Wolves 38-33 in the second half, overcoming a two-point halftime deficit. Bemidji State opened the first half with an effective start, with Austin Josephson scoring a layup at 19:48, assisted by Dominic Fairbanks, and Eddie Jallow Hedqvist hitting a 3-pointer shortly after to establish an early lead. Despite maintaining a strong offensive presence in the paint, BSU faced a back-and-forth battle, as the teams tied the score three times throughout the half. Henry Shannon III played a crucial role with multiple defensive rebounds and key field goals, contributing significantly to the team's efforts to keep the game close. As the half progressed, Bemidji State succeeded in cutting a late deficit with a layup and free throw by John Pecarich, tying the game at 28-28 with 15 seconds remaining. However, NSU managed to edge ahead with two free throws in the final seconds, closing the half with a narrow 30-28 advantage. The second half began with BSU taking an early lead, highlighted by Pecarich's jumper and Fairbanks' layup to make it 32-30. The Beavers maintained their advantage through efficient free-throw shooting from Shannon, who added two more points to extend the lead. A 3-pointer by Hedqvist at 16:31 further solidified Bemidji State's position, although the Wolves kept pace with strategic plays. As the half progressed, BSU continued to find success inside, with key defensive rebounds by Josephson and Shannon. Despite turnovers, the Beavers regained momentum with timely baskets, including a crucial layup by Pecarich. In the closing minutes, a layup by Fairbanks and a jumper from Shannon at 00:36 secured the lead. Two fast-break free throws by Fairbanks with 8 seconds remaining sealed the game at 66-63 in favor of Bemidji State. Shannon led the team with 21 points and 13 rebounds, including two blocks. Pecarich contributed 16 points, converting seven of eight free throws and recording two steals. Hedqvist scored 11 points, all from three-point range, and added three rebounds. Josephson finished with 10 points and six rebounds, along with one block. The Beavers stand at 5-5 overall and 2-3 in NSIC play. The Wolves hold a 2-8 overall record and are also 2-3 in NSIC competition.