Jan. 28, 2006

BEMIDJI, Minn. – [box score] Stacy Pearson-Taylor (Sr., F, Miami, Fla.) netted 16 points to key the Bemidji State University men's basketball team to a 66-57 victory over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe University of Minnesota-Crookston Saturday night at the BSU Gymnasium.

The Beavers used a 16-4 run midway through the second half to blow the game open leaning on the inside play of Pearson-Taylor, Spencer Carter (Sr., F, Chicago, Ill.) and Manuel Guzman (Sr., C, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) to out muscle the Golden Eagles in the paint.

Carter was the only other BSU player to register a double-figure scoring total netting 13 while equaling teammate Guzman to lead all players with seven rebounds.

Antwon Miller posted a game-high 17 points to lead the Golden Eagles while Mike Thompson added nine points and a team-best six rebounds in the losing effort.

After trailing for the first five minutes, the Beavers used a pair of free-throws by Sherwin Johnson (Sr., F, Macon, Ga.) in the midst of a 8-0 BSU run to to take their first lead of the game, 8-6, just 5:24 in.

Battling foul trouble early, BSU struggled to shake the Golden Eagles sending them to the line 15 times during the first 20 minutes ruining any chance to build momentum. UMC was 9-of-15 in the half while BSU was a meager 3-of-7.

Guzman gave BSU its largest lead of the first half (35-27) when he corralled a Duane Fields (Sr., G, Los Angeles, Calif.) missed layup attempt and put it back as time expired on the first half.

UMC came out of the break to hit a quick bucket and a pair of free-throws to reel BSU to within four points (35-31), but BSU would rattle off 16 of the next 20 to increase its lead to 16 points (51-35) before the 11-minute mark of the second stanza.

The Bemidji State lead would hover around 15 points for the majority of the half but UMC ended the game on a six-point run as the Beavers grabbed their 11th consecutive win over Minnesota-Crookston 66-57.

BSU controlled the paint in the game out hustling the Golden Eagles to the boards for a 33-26 advantage on the glass which translating into 26 second chance points. The Beavers also out scored UMC 36-22 in the paint. The BSU defense forced UMC into 31 turnovers as BSU cruised to the victory despite being out shot 50 to 45.6% on the night.

BSU improves to 10-9 overall and 5-2 in NSIC play to stay just one game behind Northern State and Winona State in the league standings as the teams make the turn for the second round of NSIC action. Minnesota-Crookston falls to 3-16 on the season and 1-6 in conference play.

The Beavers will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Crookston, Minn. to battle the Golden Eagles for the second time in seven days. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. at UMC's Lysaker Gymnasium.