Dec. 5, 2002
Bemidji, Minn. - Bemidji State (3-4, 0-0 NSIC) shot
the ball well as it maintained a 60.0% clip (33-55), but BSU’s
27 turnovers and clutch free throw shooting by St. Cloud State
(4-1, 0-0 NCC) gave SCSU a 91-84 victory.
“We are turning the ball over way too much,” said
head coach Jeff Guiot. “We can’t
double the other team’s turnovers and expect to win.
Right now, we are our own worst enemy.”
BSU streaked out to a 7-1 early lead behind a jumper apiece
by junior forward Charles Hanks (Chicago,
Ill.) and senior center Ben Caron (Bemidji,
Minn.) and a lay-up by senior guard Royce Bryan
(Haviland, Kan.). Caron was fouled in the act of shooting
and nailed his free-throw for the early edge. The Beavers
would increase that margin to 20-8 at the 11:04 mark on a
lay-up by Caron but a three-point basket by Forrest Witt began
a SCSU flurry. The visitors went on a 32-16 run to wrap up
the first half. The Huskies had five more points from the
charity stripe compared to the Beavers. Both teams shot exceptionally
well with St. Cloud State (53.8%) enjoying a slight edge over
Bemidji State (51.7%). SCSU enjoyed a 40-36 halftime advantage.
The Huskies opened up a double-digit lead less than four minutes
into the second frame on Witt’s fourth trifecta of the
game. That put the count at 54-43 with 16:43 remaining. SCSU
pushed that margin to 18, its largest cushion, at 71-53 at
8:45. That scoring occurred after BSU turned the ball over
three times in :55. But, BSU had an answer as it scored 13
of the next 19 points to bring the score within eight at 77-69
at 5:11. The Beavers continued their push as they got to within
84-79 at 2:34 but were forced to foul. St. Cloud State then
hit on seven of its final 10 free throw attempts to seal the
non-conference victory.
Bryan paced BSU with a season-high 15 points on 6-7 shooting
from the field. Hanks hit for 13 while senior guard Stan
Johnson (Salt Lake City, Utah) had 13 as well. Caron
was 5-7 from the field as he totaled 12 points with freshman
guard Jamal Clements (Parkhill, Colo.) notching
a career-high of 10 points.
BSU out-rebounded SCSU (31-24) but traveled to the free-throw
line 25 fewer times.
The story of the game was the free-throw line as the Huskies
connected on 23 compared to BSU’s six. Coach Guiot comments
on how the disparity in free throws took the game away from
his players.
“They beat us by 17 on the line tonight,” said
Guiot. “When we allow that to happen, we take ourselves
out of the game. That just gives them a chance to rest. We
want to fatigue them.”
St. Cloud State was led by the 22 points on the part of Forrest
Witt. Nate Miller was next with 17 as he chipped in five steals.
Steve Trull posted 17 points while Brent Frikken had 16 in
21 minutes.
BSU has a few days to rest as Wednesday brings St. Scholastica
to the BSU Gymnasium. Game-time is 7:00 p.m.
Notes: With four assists on the
night, Royce Bryan ties himself for ninth
on the school’s career assists lists with 176 - he needs
just seven more to move into the eighth spot...BSU has dropped
eight straight in the series to the Huskies...The 60.0% (33-55)
shooting mark on the part of BSU ties a season-high - the
Beavers hit on the exact number of shots and attempted the
same in the win vs. UW-Superior on Monday...The 91 points
allowed is a season-high and the most since the Beavers allowed
Northern State to notch 93, Jan. 12, 2002.
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