Thursday, January 17, 2013

Setting the Scene
Opponent: Winona State
Date: Friday, Jan. 18, 2013
Location: Winona, Minn.
Tip-off: 8:00 p.m.
Gymnasium: McCown Gymnasium
Capacity: 3,500

Opponent: Upper Iowa
Date: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013
Location: Fayette, Iowa
Tip-off: 8:00 p.m.
Gymnasium: Dorman Gymnasium
Capacity: 1,500

Multimedia
Local Radio: none
         Play-by-play: none
Internet Audio: none
Local Television: none
         Play-by-Play: none
Web cast: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/bsu.portal#
Live Stats and Audio at WSU: http://www.winonastatewarriors.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball
Live Stats and Audio at UIU: http://www.upperiowaathletics.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

The Game
The Bemidji State University men’s basketball team (8-6; 6-4 NSIC, 5-3 NSIC North) concludes a three-game road trip Jan. 18-19, as it travels south to battle Winona State University (14-3; 8-2 NSIC, 6-2 NSIC South) and Upper Iowa University (11-5; 7-3 NSIC, 5-3 NSIC South) in a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contests. Both games are set to begin at 8 p.m.

The Beavers
The Beavers are 2-1 in their last three games after defeating University of Minnesota, Crookston Jan. 15 on the road by the score of 75-58. BSU started slow, but a late charge in the first half handed it a 45-29 halftime lead. The Beaver advantage reached as high as 26 and never dipped below 11 in the second half, en route to the 17-point victory. Seniors played a big role in the win, combining for 59 points. Senior Lance Rongstad continued to shoot the ball well after posting 21 against Wayne State Jan. 12 and recorded a season-high 26 points and tied a season-high eight rebounds. He also shot 61.5 percent. Seniors Mason Walters and Dermaine Crockrell added 15 and 13 points, respectfully. After back-to-back 20 point performances, Rongstad now has 982 career points, 18 shy of 1,000.

Season Shot Clock
• Head coach Mike Boschee started with a 6-3 record in his first nine games as BSU’s bench boss, which was the best start by a Beaver first-year head coach since Jack Vinje opened the 1958-59 season with a matching 6-3 record.
• Senior Lance Rongstad is 18 points shy of becoming the 16th 1,000 point scorer in BSU program history. He has 982 career points heading into the road weekend.
• BSU scored 212 points (106.0 ppg) and allowed 119 (59.2 ppg) points in back-to-back games Nov. 21-Dec. 1.
• The Beavers have allowed 63.0 points per game, which sits fifth in the NSIC and 39th nationally (as of Jan. 12) in all games, while the 61.9 points allowed per league contest is first.
• The first five games of the season were decided by 25 or more points, while six of the last nine games have been decided by 11 points or less. BSU is 3-3 in those games decided by 11 or less.
• On the defensive end in league games, BSU is third in the NSIC in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing its opponent to shoot 31.1 percent from downtown.
• BSU is fourth in the league in 3-point field goals made per game (7.57 3-ptpg).
• With a 8.57 steals per game average, the Beavers rank third in the conference.
• Senior Mason Walters is shooting free throws at a 87.5 percent clip to rank ninth in the NSIC and 10th in the nation (as of Jan. 12).
• Walters is guiding a team that owns a 74.1 percent free throw percentage that stands seventh in the league and 38th nationally (as of Jan. 12).
• Walters is pulling in 7.3 rebounds per game in conference contests to rank sixth among his league counterparts.
• The senior owns five double-doubles this season to rank second in the NSIC for most double-doubles. His mark also ranks 33rd nationally (as of Jan. 12).
• Junior Michael Farrington leads the team and sits tied for ninth in the NSIC in steals per game with 1.50 per contest.

The Warriors: After a 0-2 start to the conference season, the Warriors have rattled off a current league-best eight straight wins to sit 8-2 in NSIC play and 14-3 overall. In the eight-game win streak, Winona State is outscoring its opponent 74.1-61.0. WSU is first in the league in field goal defense, allowing 38.8 percent shooting by its opponent. The Warriors have swatted away 4.47 shots per game this season to sit second in the league. Senior Clayton Vette is averaging a team-best 18.8 points per game to rank fourth in the NSIC. His 8.6 rebounds per contest is tied for first in the league. Mike Leaf is in his 15th season as head coach of the Warriors.   

All-Time Series vs the Warriors: The Beavers defeated then-No. 22 Winona State 94-84 in the 2011-12 season finale to claim the outright NSIC Regular Season Championship. The win improved BSU’s all-time mark against the Warriors to 70-81 and 4-2 in the last six meetings. In Winona a season ago, the Beavers fell 62-49.

The Peacocks: The Peacocks started their conference season with an upset of then-No. 9 Winona State on the road, which started a four-game winning streak that also included a road victory at then-No. 20 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Since the fast start, UIU has slowed a bit and has posted a 3-3 record in league play. Upper Iowa fell to Winona State Tuesday 68-53. The Peacocks own a 3-3 home record this season, losing their last two at Dorman Gymnasium. Senior Tucker Wentzlen leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Brian Dolan is in his seventh season as head coach of Upper Iowa.    

All-Time Series vs the Peacocks: BSU owns the all-time series advantage with Upper Iowa by an 8-5 mark, including the last three meetings. Last season on the road, BSU won 70-60.

NSIC Preseason Poll: Losing Daktronics Division II Player of the Year James Ellisor, all-region point guard Bryce Tesdahl and head coach Matt Bowen from last season’s record-breaking campaign has left doubt in the minds of the NSIC coaches for this year, as the BSU men’s basketball team was tabbed to finish tied for 12th in the 2012-13 NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Bemidji State earned 72 points in the overall poll to tie with Upper Iowa University and earned 25 points in the North Division poll to sit fifth.

BSU’s Player to Watch: Senior Dermaine Crockrell was an impact player the moment he stepped onto the court for BSU and earned 2011-12 NSIC Newcomer of the Year honors for his efforts last season. He averaged 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game and shot 50.3 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from beyond the arc. Crockrell played in his first game Dec. 16 and scored 10 points, but followed that with 21 in his second game in the green and white. Overall he posted four 20-point performances (season-high 27 at Minnesota Duluth Feb. 4) and finished the conference season second on the team and 23rd in the NSIC in scoring with 12.7 points per game. 

Against Ranked Opponents: The Beavers got tested right out of the gates in 2011-12 with a contest at then-No. 10 Metro State Nov. 11 in the season opener, as it fell 71-60. BSU also fell to then-No. 17 Winona State Dec. 9 62-49, lost 103-93 in a double overtime thriller at then-No. 21 Augustana College and fell to then-No. 21 St. Cloud State 72-70 Jan. 13 to hold an 0-4 record against ranked opponents until downing then-No. 22 Winona State Feb. 25 at home 94-84.

BSU again battled Metro State early this season, falling to the then-No. 5 Roadrunners 67-41 Nov. 17. The Beavers traveled to No. 14 St. Cloud State Dec. 7 and led more almost 35 minutes of clock time before losing a lead for good and falling 68-60. BSU is also 1-2 against team’s earning votes in the national poll - losses to Michigan Tech (L, 86-59) and MSU Moohread (L, 82-48) and win against Augustana (W, 69-67).

The Beavers are 4-20 in the last seven seasons against nationally ranked opponents. The last time BSU defeated a ranked opponent before Feb. 25, 2012 was at Winona State Dec. 12, 2009 when the Beavers upset the Warriors 88-87 in overtime.

Welcome to the BSU Three Party: The Beavers hit at least five 3-pointers in 28 of the 31 games last season to total 225, an average of 7.3 a game. BSU shot at a 38.8 percent clip from beyond the arc (225-for-580) to rank fourth in the NSIC and 30th in the nation.

Right out of the gates the Beavers posted a double-digit 3-pointer total with 10 against UC-Colorado Springs Nov. 16. BSU went 10-for-18 (55.6%) in the game. The Beavers racked-up 17 against Finlandia Nov. 21. BSU scored 12 3-pointers against Minnesota, Crookston Dec. 1 and knocked down 14 versus Minot State Dec. 15. BSU is 6-4 when it hits five or more 3-pointers. BSU is fourth in the league in 3-point field goals made per game (7.57 3-ptpg).

Century Mark, Plus: The Beavers totaled 122 points in the 122-61 victory at Finlandia University Nov. 21. The BSU point total ranks second in program history in regulation games and third overall in points scored in a game. The record is a 126- 96 victory against Northland Dec. 13, 1991. BSU scored 124 points in a four overtime 126-124 loss at home to University of Minnesota Duluth Feb. 25, 2009. The last 100-point game for the Beavers came last season in a 100-77 home win against Concordia University, St. Paul. BSU also established a program record for point margin in the Nov. 21 win with 61. (List of all-time 100-point games can be found on page 11).

DEFENSE! [clap, clap] DEFENSE!: In a win, the most points the Beavers have allowed is 67. Overall, the team’s scoring defense stands at 63.0 points per game, which sits fifth in the NSIC and 39th nationally, while the 61.9 points allowed per league contest is first. The 40 points given up in the 61-40 victory Dec. 14 against University of Mary, marked the lowest output by a BSU opponent since the 1951-52 season and the lowest by a conference opponent since 1950-51.

1,000 Points Watch: Senior Lance Rongstad has accumulated 982 career points (11.0 ppg) in his three plus seasons as a Beaver. He is just 18 points shy of becoming the 16th player at Bemidji State to reach the career 1,000-point mark. Last season, James Ellisor became the 15th player to reach the milestone and finished 13th all-time with 1,129 points in two seasons in the green and white.

Rongstad is also chasing BSU’s career rebounding and assist lists. With 392 career rebounds he is 63 boards shy of tying for 10th and with 131 assists, is 59 helpers short of tying for 10th.

For more information on the Bemidji State men’s basketball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUHoops or @BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/Bemidji-State-Basketball or facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Mulitmedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--