Bemidji State uses big second half to beat UMC Men’s Basketball

The Bemidji State Beavers scored 56 second half points to beat the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle men’s basketball team 87-77 at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston.

FIRST HALF –
UMC had a great start to the game, scoring the first 11 points. Kazadi Mukoma Jr. (Jr. Grand Island, NE) started the game with the first five points, and that was a sign of things to come from Mukoma Jr. UMC’s Spencer Swenson (Fresh. Sauk Rapids) followed with four points, and Mukoma Jr. capped the run with a pair of free throws for an 11-0 lead three minutes into the game. Bemidji State finally got the lid off the basket when they made a layup and followed with three more points to get within an 11-5 deficit. The teams exchanged mini-runs, and UMC led 19-15 halfway through the half. UMC’s Hunter Lorenson (Soph, Lake City) made a three-pointer. After a BSU three, Lorenson answered with another three-pointer, and Alijah Washington (Jr., San Jose, CA) added a layup to give the Golden Eagles a 27-18 lead. The teams exchanged baskets before BSU went on a 6-0 run to get within a 29-27 deficit. UMC’s Mukoma Jr. buried a three-pointer before the Beavers had a dunk and a basket to get within a 32-31 deficit with 1:54 left in the half. The only points in the final 1:54 of the half was another three-pointer from UMC’s Mukoma Jr. to give Crookston a 35-31 lead going into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
Bemidji State had a good start to the second half as they started with an old-fashioned three-point play, and after a UMC basket, the Beavers scored the next five points for a 39-37 lead. The lead was Bemidji State’s first lead of the game. UMC tied the game with a layup by Washington. BSU made a basket before UMC’s Mukoma Jr. buried another three-pointer to regain the lead at 42-41 a little over three minutes into the half. Bemidji State scored seven of the next 10 points to take a 48-45 lead.  UMC answered with a three-pointer from J.D. Roberts (Jr. Parkville, Missouri), and Mukoma Jr. added a free throw to get within a 50-49 deficit. BSU answered with an 11-2 run to build a 59-51 lead halfway through the half. The final three points of the run were a John Pecarich (Jr. Baxter) three-pointer, and that got the Beavers going from deep. After a UMC layup, Pecarich made two free throws, and Dominic Fairbanks (Soph. Cass Lake) made a three-pointer and was fouled, and he added a free throw for a four-point play for a 69-53 lead with 8:19 left in the game. UMC stopped the run with a Roberts three-pointer and a Lindsay free throw to get within a 69-57 deficit.Bemidji State made two free throws before UMC got the hot hand. Mukoma Jr. made two free throws, Roberts and Lindsey followed with layups to get within a 71-63 deficit with 5:56 to go. 
Bemidji State made two free throws before UMC got the hot hand. Mukoma Jr. made two free throws, Roberts and Lindsey followed with layups to get within a 71-63 deficit with 5:56 to go. Bemidji State added a basket before UMC’s Lindsey scored four straight points to get within a 73-67 deficit.  The teams exchanged baskets over the next two minutes, and UMC trailed 77-71 with 2:33 left in the game.  Bemidji State scored six of the next seven points, and the Beavers led 83-72 with 1:14 left.  UMC’s last-ditch effort was sparked by a Lindsey three-pointer with one minute remaining. After a BSU free throw, Mukoma Jr. got a layup, and the Golden Eagles trailed 84-77. BSU’s Pecarich made two more free throws for a game-high 34 points. Bemidji State held on and continued to hit their free throws to win the game 87-77.

UMC drops is 1-7 on the year and 0-3 in the NSIC and will travel to Bismarck, North Dakota on Thursday to take on the University of Mary. Bemidji State improves 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC.

Donez Lindsey

Landon Dimler

Hunter Lorenson

J.D. Roberts

Kazadi Mukoma Jr

Donez Lindsey

Landon Dimler

Hunter Lorenson

J.D. Roberts

Kazadi Mukoma Jr

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