Nov. 26, 2005

JOPLIN, Mo.– [box score] The Bemidji State University men's basketball team was defeated by Missouri Southern State University, 74-60, in front of a home crowd of 1,426 at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center Saturday in Joplin, Mo. The game was the final contest of the 2005 Freeman Sports Medicine/Chris Tucker Memorial Classic.

The Beavers struggled to generate any kind of offensive flow during the first 10 minutes of the game. After after sinking three of their first four shots, BSU would see the Lions come back to take the lead, 9-7 just four minutes into the game.

During the next six minutes, the Lions would outscore the Beavers 21-9, stretching their lead to 19 points (30-11) midway though the first half.

During the run, MSSU was 9-for-11 (.818) from the floor with 14 points coming from inside the paint while adding a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. Meanwhile, BSU was 2-for-7 (.285) from the field while committing six turnovers.

The Beavers would battle back to trim the Lions' lead to 12 points on several occasions during the remainder of the game even reeling MSSU to within 10 points midway through the final 20 minutes, but too much damage was done early and MSSU walked away with the 14-point win.

The Lions hit nearly 55 percent (29-53) of their shots draining 50 percent (5-10) from beyond the free-throw arc while out scoring BSU 44-32 in the paint in the game. BSU shot 34 percent (24-69) and were just 4-of-26 from downtown (.154). However the Beavers did hold a slight edge on the glass hauling in 40 rebounds to MSSU's 36.

The Beavers were led by Spencer Carter (Sr., F, Chicago, Ill.) who posted his finest game of the season collecting 16 points and 14 rebounds--both season-highs--for his first double-double of 2005-06. The senior also added one of BSU two blocks in the game. Derik Hollyfield (Sr., G, Aurora, Ill.) garnered the other block while recording a team-high six assists.

The Lions' Quentin Edwards led a quartet of MSSU players who registered double-digit point totals with 21. Myron Hodge posted the team's only double-double on the night netting 11 points and pulling down 11 rebounds while Tyler Ryerson led all players with 11 assists in the game.

After hitting at least five three-point field goals in 93 consecutive games, a streak dating back to the 2001-02 season, BSU made just four threes Saturday marking the second consecutive game BSU has failed to collect five treys.

BSU is now 1-1 all-time versus Missouri Southern State and moved to 5-3 versus Mid-America INtercollegiate Athletic Associations institutions in the 84-year history of the program.

The loss drops Bemidji State to 2-3 on the year while MSSU improves to 3-2. BSU will be back in action Tuesday Nov. 29 when the team travels to St. Cloud State University in a 7 p.m. non-conference affair.