DATE: Jan. 18, 2014
CONTACT: Dax Larson, Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations (218-755-2763 / dlarson@bemidjistate.edu)

Bemidji State has won five straight, 6-1 in last seven to improve to 12-4, 9-3 NSIC

BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) – The Bemidji State University men's basketball team collected its fifth straight victory, its sixth win in the last seven games and took over sole possession of first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North, Saturday, with an 85-77 home victory against Northern State University.

The Beavers were led by senior Jake Schalow (G, Kaukauna, Wis.), who contributed 17 of his 21 points in the second half. He went 5-for-9 (55.6%) from the field, 3-for-5 (60%) from 3-point land and a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Senior forward Zach Noreen (Avon, Minn.) added 20 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes. Junior Brock Lutes (G, Portland, Ore.) added 16 points and senior Maxie Rosenbloom (F, St. Paul, Minn.) totaled 12 points and eight rebounds, while playing all 40 minutes.
The Beavers shot 50.9 percent from the field, went 9-for-16 (56.3%) from 3-point land and was 22-for-26 (84.6%) from the free throw line. NSU shot 43.8 percent from the field. BSU won the rebounding battle 36-31. BSU entered the contest shooting 58.4 percent from the field in the last six contests.

The Beavers led 3-2 in the first minute of action, but trailed for the next 12 minutes until a 3-pointer from sophomore Dillon Floyd (F, Palm Springs, Calif.) – his second consecutive 3-pointer – to open a 22-19 lead with 6:55 remaining in the opening half. BSU led by six at 25-19 with 5:35 left, but the Beavers trailed 30-29 with 1:51 left. The Beavers were able to take a 35-34 lead into the half after junior DJ Hervy (G, Chicago, Ill.) knocked down a 3-pointer before NSU scored at the buzzer.

With 17:15 remaining in the second half, the Beavers owned a lead of seven at 45-38 after an old-fashioned 3-point play by Lutes. The Wolves battled back and the game was tied 53-53 with 11:02 left on the game clock. BSU regained the lead with another 3-point play, this time by Noreen. The Beaver lead was two at 61-59 with 8:18 left, then the home team rattled off a seven-point run to take the 68-59 lead with 5:41 left.

The run was capped by a 3-point shot by Schalow, then a rare four-point play by Schalow lifted the Beavers to its first 10-point lead of the game at 72-62 with 4:59 to play. BSU led by 14 at 79-65 with 2:33 remaining, but Northern State came back and trailed by just seven at 79-72 with 1:18 remaining.
The run was too little too late and the Beavers shot 6-of-8 from the free throw line down the stretch to ice the eight-point victory, 85-77.

ONLINE RESOURCES:
  * Box score: http://www.bsubeavers.com/media/2013-14/mbasketball/stats/bsum16.htm

  * Video Interviews: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL9qWmQvRCo&list=UUyEv4TswZC2MmckbllXRdVw&feature=c4-overview

  * Photos: http://www.bsubeavers.com/mbasketball/photos/2013-14/474/

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