BEMIDJI, Minn. -- On multiple occasions, the Bemidji State University men’s basketball team was able to play strong defense for the majority of a possession in the 67-65 loss to Northern State University Friday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game at the BSU Gymnasium. But on multiple occasions, NSU was able to find a way to make a shot with just seconds left on the shot clock. This was no different in the Wolves’ final possession, as Mitch Boeck hit a game-winning shot with just 0.03 seconds left on the clock to give NSU its second conference win of the season. BSU has now lost seven straight games and its last six in conference play.

The Beavers (5-10, 2-7 NSIC) tied the game on a sophomore Bryce Tesdahl (G, Crosby, MInn.) drive and lay-up with 24 seconds remaining, tying the game for the 12th time. With the shot clock turned off, NSU had the last chance to score and converted with just a mere snap of the fingers left on the scoreboard. The Beavers put a solid game together, but couldn’t find a way to be on the winning end of a hard fought battle.

The Wolves (6-9, 2-6 NSIC) started the game strong, owning a 20-13 lead after nine minutes of play. BSU then put together a 7-0 run to tie the game 20-20, getting all the scoring from three bench players. The game then became a see-saw contest with the teams trading buckets through the half. NSU was on top 34-33 when the halftime buzzer sounded.

The second half continued the back-and-forth play through the first six minutes of the frame, as the score was knotted for the ninth time in the game at 42-42. NSU scored with 13:51 remaining in the half to take a two point lead that reached its peak at eight with 6:47 left, and a score of 59-54. The Beavers then put together a 12-1 run to own a three point advantage with 2:41 remaining. The run included five points from freshman Lance Rongstad (G, Eleva, Wis.). A 3-point play from NSU’s Jordan King tied the game at 63-63 with 2:21 remaining. The Wolves made it 65-63 with 1:26 left and had a chance to make it a four-point game at the line after BSU missed a 3-point attempt and fouled on the NSU possession. Fortunately for the home team, the Wolves missed both free throws and that set-up Tesdahl’s drive and bucket.

Senior Seth Haake (G, Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the Beavers in scoring with 18 points and in rebounding with six. He also added four steals and three assists. Rongstad had 13 points three rebounds and three assists. Tesdahl also scored in double-figures with 11 on 5-of-8 shooting and five rebounds. NSU shot 51 percent from the field, which included 59.1 percent in the second half. BSU shot 40.4 percent from the field and 29.4 from beyond the arc, while the Wolves were 6-of-15 (40%) from downtown. The Beavers are a 77 percent shooting team from the line this season that ranks them first in the conference and seventh in the nation in that category, but BSU only went 14-of-19 (73.7%) from the line in the game.

BSU hosts University of Mary to complete the NSIC weekend Jan. 16 at 8 p.m.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--