Nov. 21, 2006

[box score]

BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- The Bemidji State University men's basketball team dropped its 2006-07 home opener Tuesday to the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The Blue Devils were 24-of-46 from the floor (.522) and grabbed a 44-29 rebounding edge en route to the 67-49 win.

Senior guard Daniel Sowu (Chicago, Ill.) led Beavers going 6-for-11 from the field including a 2-for-4 performance from beyond the arc for a team-best and career-high 14 points as four BSU players recorded double-figure point totals. Alex Smith (Jr., F, Miami, Fla.) added 12 points--all coming in the second half--and paced the Beavers on the glass totaling six. Arron Evans (Jr., PG, Minneapolis, Minn.) and Sergej Baskow (Fr., F, Ludwigsburg, Germany) each chipped in 10 points.

UW-Stout's Jerrel Enerson-Matthews led all players with 23 points hitting 8-of-13 on the night including 4-of-8 three-point attempts. Jacob Nonemacher posted the game's only double-double collecting 18 rebounds while dumping in 14 points. Eric Heisler added 16 points.

The Beavers got on the board first winning the opening tip and getting a three-pointer from Marques Ramos (Jr., G/F, Henderson, Nev.) but an 0-6 streak lasting over five minutes would open the door for the Blue Devils to take momentum and the lead and they would do just that.

Netting the next 10 points UW-Stout took a 10-3 lead at the 14:25 mark.

Sowu would hit a three to end the shooting drought and a free-throw from Baskow with 11:55 on the clock would pull the Beavers to within three, 10-7.

As the first half wound down, the Beavers' continued to struggle from the floor while UWS began to heat up.

Heisler and Jason Clopton combined for 13 of the next 15 points in putting the Blue Devils up by 14 with just over seven minutes to play in the first. An Evans lay-up would pull the Beavers to within 10 (23-13) in the half's closing minutes, but UW-Stout would go into the break holding a 32-18 lead.

As the second half got underway, both teams struggled to generate any offensive flow but UWS managed to net the first seven points of the half to increase its lead to 21 points, 39-18.

The Beavers would match the Blue Devils stride for stride during the game's final 16 minutes, but it would not be enough to overcome their early shooting woes.

BSU is now 7-3 all-time versus the Blue Devils.

The Beavers (0-4) host Augustana College (S.D.) Friday as they play the second contest of a three-game homestand. Tip off is set for 4 p.m. in the BSU Gymnasium.

--bsu--