Feb 4, 2006

CROOKSTON, Minn. – [box score] Bemidji State University senor center Manual Guzman (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) scored 20 points on 7-of-12 from the field and 6-of-7 from the line as BSU began it second trip through the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule with an 82-60 win over the University of Minnesota-Crookston Saturday at UMC's Lysaker Gymnasium.

Guzman led a crew of four BSU players to register double-figure point totals. Stacy Pearson-Taylor (Sr., F, Miami, Fla.) added 18 points and a game-high 11 rebound for his fourth double-double of the season. Will Watson (Sr., G, Baton Rouge, La.) added 12 points off the bench while Derik Hollyfield (Sr., G, Aurora, Ill.) scored 10 while going a perfect 8-of-8 from the line.

Jordan Grafsgaard paced UMC with 11 points while pulling down a team-high eight boards. Josh Faust added 10 points for the Golden Eagles in the loss.

The Beavers held a 42-32 edge on the glass while the team took better care of the ball turning it over just 17 times compared to the 26 its pesky defense forced UMC into.

The hosting Golden Eagles got on the scoreboard first, but after a pair of ties and three lead changes during the first three minutes, Bemidji State mounted a four-minute, 12-0 run to take an 11-point lead (17-6). BSU would stretch its lead to 15 points on a pair of free-throws by Hollyfield, but scoring 11 of the final 13 points of the half, UMC sliced the BSU advantage to six points (34-28) before the horn sounded.

UMC was first out of the gates in the second half hitting a jumper just seconds in to cut the lead to 34-30, but BSU would rattle off 16 of the next 20 points to push its lead back into the double-digits (50-34) with 13 minutes to go.

BEmidji State used a 15-6 run midway though the second half to put the game out of reach, going up by 22 (74-52) with five minutes remaining on the clock.

During the run BSU was 10-of-11 from the line as the team out shot its opponent at the line for just the fourth time this season.

The Beavers would coast to the 82-60 victory.

BSU improves to 11-9 overall and 6-2 in NSIC play to stay just one game behind Northern State and Winona State in the league standings. Minnesota-Crookston falls to 3-17 on the season and 1-7 in conference play.

The Beavers will be back in action next weekend as it hits the road for a pair of NSIC tilts. Friday the team travels to Wayne, Neb. for an 8 p.m. tip versus Wayne State College while Saturday the team will move to Marshall, Minn. for an 8 p.m. contest versus Southwest Minnesota State University.