Jan. 20, 2007
[box
score]
BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- Bemidji
State University guard Seth Haake (Eden Prairie,
Minn) posted a career-high 13 points including hit a pair
of free-throws with 21 seconds to go to help lead the Beavers
to a 53-51 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory
over Upper Iowa University Saturday at the BSU Gymnasium.
BSU struggled getting baskets to fall in
the first half, shooting just 7-for-30 (.223) but stayed in
the game by out rebounding the Peacocks (24-15), taking good
care of the ball and defending the basket. In the second half
that hard work paid off as BSU out scored UIU, 31-25, and
got key shots out of Arron Evans (Jr., G,
Minneapolis, Minn.), Alex Smith (Jr., F,
Miami, Fla.) and Haake.
Evans led the team offensively posting a
game-high 14 points including a pair of three-pointers during
the final 6:17 as the Beavers mounted a 14-4 run to overtake
UIU for good. Haake added 13 on 4-of-7 from the field, 3-of-5
from beyond the arc and and 2-2 form the stripe. Dan
Sowu (Sr., G, Chicago, Ill.) paced the team with
eight boards and three assists while adding seven points.
The Peacocks were led by Marcus Uhlenhopp
who scored 12 points including three triples. Nick Larson
recorded 11 points and Mohammed Animashaun was 8-of-10 from
the free-throw line and totaled 10 points. Michael Reddick
added five points and matched Sowu's eight boards.
From the opening tip BSU quickly asserted
itself as Haake opened with a three and Evans repeated on
the following possession to put BSU up early, 6-0.
The Beavers would extend that lead to 9-2
with 16:32 to go in the half on another three by Evans, but
when the team failed to record a field goal during the next
4:18, the Peacocks seize the opportunity, knocking down 3-of-3
from the field and were 4-of-4 from the line to mount a 11-2
run to take their first lead of the game, 13-12, at the 12-minute
mark.
After a quick jumper by Sowu, the Beavers
again struggled to get a shot to fall going another 5:40 without
a field goal and falling behind 21-12, as the clock neared
six minutes.
The Beavers held UIU to just five points
for the remainder of the half, heading to the locker rooms
down 26-22 at the break.
Netting the first seven points of the second
half, UIU extended its lead to 12 points, 34-22, before Marques
Ramos (Jr., G/F, Henderson, Nev.) got BSU on the
board with 16:34 to play.
BSU continued to whittle away at the UIU
lead coming to within two, 42-40, with 7:35 to play as Haake
nailed a clutch three as the shot clock ran out.
Evans hit back-to-back three-pointers during
the next two minutes to cut the UIU lead to one, and then
tie the game at 46-46 with 3:37 left on the clock.
Smith then took the game into his hands.
After struggling form the floor all night,
he sandwiched a steal between a pair of jumpers in the lane
to give the Beavers a three-point cushion, 51-48, and as the
Peacocks were forced to foul Haake with 21 seconds to play
in an attempt to save the clock, the freshman. in his first
collegiate start. nailed both freebies to virtually put the
game out of the Peacocks' reach.
UIU would hit a jumper as time expired to
close the BSU margin of victory to 53-51.
The Beavers finished the game 17-of-57 from
the field (.298), 8-of-18 (.444) form beyond the arc and out
rebounded the Peacocks 46-25 in the contest.
UIU was 13-of-38 (.342) in the loss and forced
BSU into 13 turnovers while committing just 11 of their own.
With the win BSU improves to 3-0 all time versus UIU and
are a perfect 2-0 at home versus the Peacocks. It was also
the first win of the 2006-07 Beavers in the BSU Gymnasium.
Bemidji State (2-16; 2-7 NSIC) will be back in action tomorrow
when it meets one of the NSIC's newest members Upper Iowa
University (3-14; 2-6 NSIC) in a 8 p.m. match-up at the BSU
Gymnasium.
--bsu--
|
