MOORHEAD, Minn. -- On a night where the long range shot was not falling, MSUM employed an interior approach to pick up their fifth consecutive win, beating Bemidji State 75-49 at home.
While Bemidji State started the game cold, going one of six from the field, the Dragons were able to open up an early seven point lead. This came thanks to six early points from
Lorenzo McGhee including a fastbreak dunk that had Nemzek Fieldhouse rocking early. MSUM would shoot 50 percent in the early going and would turn the Beavers over four times in the first five minutes.
Jaden Stanley-Williams continued his offensive hot streak with six early points on three of four shooting from the field. Late in the first half, the Dragon defense had turned Bemidji State over 10 times all while shooting 46.9 percent from the field. MSUM's lead ballooned to 14 points by halftime with the Dragons leading 35-21. Bemidji State finished the half with 11 turnovers. Stanley-Williams led the Dragons with eight first half points.
MSUM would only continue to extend their lead in the second half. Led by their seniors Stanley-Williams, McGhee and
Gavin Baumgartner, the Dragons pushed the lead to 18 early in the half. While Bemidji State's Dalton Albrecht did all he could (eventually scoring a game-high 22 points), MSUM continued to wallop the Beavers on the defensive end. By game's end, the Beavers had turned the ball over 18 times as the Dragons would score 21 points off of those mishaps.
The Dragons would dominate down low all game as the long range shot was not falling. MSUM would finish the contest shooting 26.3 percent from long range, but were able to score 42 of their 75 points in the paint. Compare that to Bemidji State's 24 paint points.
Tim Bergstraser would see five Dragons score in double figures with MSUM gaining their largest lead as the game came to a close. Their 26-point victory tonight is the third consecutive game in which the Dragons have won by 20 or more points. It also extended the MSUM win streak to five games.
Top Dragons
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
The Dragons scored an 82-81 win at Minnesota Crookston six years ago. Coincidentally, and perhaps remarkably, they played to the same exact score one year later. Bemidji State edged the Dragons 82-81 five years ago tonight on December 9, 2017.
Up Next
MSUM (8-2) is in action again tomorrow with Minnesota Crookston coming to town. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
