Nov. 23, 2002
Jamestown, N.D. - Despite nearly shooting 50% compared to the 43% mark by the Jimmies (4-0, 0-0 DAC-10), Bemidji State (1-1, 0-0 NSIC) lost 82-78 in a non-conference contest tonight. BSU tied the score twice under the final three minutes and had two more chances in the last :40 seconds to take the lead with a three-pointer but the Jimmies knocked down their free throws to seal the deal.

“Our execution in the last three minutes has got to improve,” said head coach Jeff Guiot. “We did not rebound off the free throw and turned the ball over a couple times. When you go 10-22 from the free throw line, you do not deserve to win.”

The Beavers were hot from the field in the first half as they went 18-32 (56.3%) from the field. Despite the good shooting, BSU only led on three occasions in that frame, all of them being by a one-point margin. Meanwhile, Jamestown led by as many as six two times. A jumper by senior guard Aaron Kallhoff (Norfolk, Neb.) halted a 9-2 spurt by the Jimmies and brought the score to 35-39 at the 3:29 mark. The Beavers tried to get the likes of junior forward Charles Hanks (Chicago, Ill.) and senior center Ben Caron (Bemidji, Minn.) more touches in the paint area in the first half. Hanks ended the half with 10 points while Caron had six as Bemidji State trailed 46-43. Guiot felt that he wanted his post players to get more chances in the block area.

“We tried to get them the ball more inside,” said Guiot. “Now they just have to make the plays down the stretch.”

After a three-point play by senior guard Stan Johnson (Taylorsville, Utah) put BSU up 49-46 right out of intermission, the Beavers maintained the lead for the most part until Jamestown went up 66-62 with 10:49 on the clock. Once again, Johnson came through as he knocked down a tri-fecta to give BSU its final lead at 73-72 with 5:08 remaining. From there, play would get hectic with the count knotted at 78-78 at 2:35. With JC connecting on four free throws for the final margin of the game, BSU had a chance with three jumpers and a free throw attempt in that time span. The Jimmies ended the game 24-30 from the charity stripe and 13-18 in the second half.

Hanks led all players with 21 points in a team-high 37 minutes. With two three-pointers to his credit, Johnson was right behind Hanks with 15 points while Caron ended up with 11 and senior guard Royce Bryan (Haviland, Kan.) had 10. As a team, BSU held the advantage in assists (19-12) and steals (9-6) but was out-rebounded (40-34) and doubled up in made three-pointers (12-6).

Eddrin Williams, who posted 15 points in the first half, led the Jimmies with 19 for the game. Benny Fragela added 13 while Brandon Wilkens and Randy Randle had 12 apiece.

Bemidji State continues its season-opening road swing with a 7:00 affair against Bethel (MN) on Tuesday.

Notes: .Jamestown was ranked 14th in preseason NAIA Division II polls...The Jimmies are coming off a 2001-02 campaign in which they appeared in the Sweet 16 round of the national tournament, ranked seventh in the national polls and went 27-6...The Beavers dropped to 4-7 in Jamestown, N.D. in the all-time series and the loss snapped a three-game BSU winning streak...Royce Bryan had a career-high seven rebounds and two blocks while Charles Hanks had a personal-best six assists in the contest.