Dec. 2, 2005

BEMIDJI, Minn.– [box score] The Bemidji State University men's basketball team used a 40-8 run during the first 10:23 of the second half to power to a 100-87 win over Colorado Christian University Friday night at the BSU Gymnasium. The 100-point game was the first under head coach Patrick Smith and the first for BSU since February 2, 2004.

The Beavers turned up the defensive effort tonight forcing the Cougars into 25 turnovers. An efficient offensive attack finishing the night 38-of-71 (.535) converted the CCU miscues into and astounding 43 points swinging the game in BSU's favor.

Seven BSU players finished the game in double figures led by senior captain Derik Hollyfield (Aurora, Ill.) who netted 17 points on 7-of-12 from the field and 2-for-5 from beyond the three-point arc. Stacy Pearson-Taylor (Sr., G/F, Miami, Fla.) added 14 points while Spencer Carter (Sr., F, Chicago, Ill.) collected his team-best third double-double of the season leading all players with 10 rebounds and hitting 5-of-8 from the floor for 12 points.

CCU was led by Troy Johnson who drained five threes en route to a game-high 21 points. He led a Cougar effort that shot 56-percent from the field including a staggering 13-of-21 from three-point land (.619). Peter Baily added 18 points while Brian Stamer posted 17 points and a team-high seven boards.

"I made up my mind tonight that were were going to have 40 minutes of pressure and we were going to bring it the entire game and try to get back to wearing teams out," commented Smith after the game.

"At half time were knew they were a good shooting team--maybe the best shooting team we have faced all year. But even though they hit a bunch of threes, I felt like were were in pretty good shape because I thought if we kept the pressure on we were going to get some turnovers in the second half." He added "That kind of turned the game around for us."

The Beavers couldn't shake the Cougars in the first half. Twice BSU put together small runs to stretch its lead to eight or nine points, but the pesky CCU squad was 7-of-8 from beyond the three-point line during the first 20 minutes to keep BSU within reach.

During the final 3:50 of the first half, CCU used the three-ball to reel BSU in from 10 points down (41-31) to tie the game at 43-43 with 1:36 to go and eventually take a 46-45 lead. But Bemidji State's Pearson-Taylor was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line during the final 64 seconds of the half to give the Beavers a 47-46 halftime advantage.

Despite not having the ball to begin the second half, BSU forced the Cougars into a pair of turnovers during the first 20 seconds to net the first five points of the half and kick-start a 12-0 run.

The Beavers continued to tighten the defensive clamps, pressing CCU into 12 more turnovers during the next 10 minutes. Those turnovers translated into a BSU 40-8 run during that same span putting the game out of reach for CCU posting a 31-point lead (87-56) with 9:33 to go in the game.

The Beavers would push on to gain their third victory of the season 100-87.

The win brings Bemidji State to 3-4 on the year while CCU falls to 1-4. The Beavers continue their current homestand with their second Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent as many days, Saturday, when the Beavers battle Mesa State College for the first time in the 84-year history of the program. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at the BSU Gymnasium.