Box Score Box Score

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston dropped their opening game in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play Saturday evening as Bemidji State University prevailed 90-58. The Golden Eagles were unable to stop the hot-shooting Beavers in the first half as they took a 20-point lead to the locker room and wouldn't look back. UMC kept BSU at bay in the second half but the Beavers' first-half performance was too much to overcome. The Golden Eagles fall to 3-2 (0-1 NSIC) while BSU improves to 3-2 (1-0 NSIC) in their first game under new head coach Mike Boschee, who is in his first year after arriving from Central College in Iowa.

UMC was led on the evening by junior guard Ashton Harrell (Jr, Houston, Texas), who came off the bench to have his best night as a Golden Eagle with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. UMC ended the game shooting a respectable 17-of-39 for 43.6 percent but defensively they were unable to stop Bemidji State, who shot 30-of-50 for 60 percent from the floor on the evening and 12-of-20 for 60 percent from three-point range. In addition to Harrell, Brandon Burns (Jr., F, Baton Rouge, La.) and Almir Krdzalic (Sr., G, Sioux Falls, S.D.) each added eight points. Harrell becomes the first person to lead the Golden Eagles other than Burns. UMC finished the game with 22 turnovers. They were out-rebounded 27 to 20. Harrell and Justin Rake (Sr., G, Petal, Miss.) led the Golden Eagles on the boards with three apiece.

Bemidji State had four players in double figures paced by 19 points from Zach Noreen and Dermaine Crockrell. Noreen, a junior forward, was 7-of-12 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc while Crockrell was 6-of-10 from the field on the evening. Mason Walters added 18 and Tor Anderson chipped in 10 to round out double-figure scoring. Noreen led BSU on the boards with four. Michael Farrington led the Beavers with four assists. Bemidji State finished the game with 20 assists and 16 turnovers.

The Beavers dominated the first half as they out-scored the Golden Eagles 42-22 and went to the locker room with the advantage. The Golden Eagles struggled to get much going in the opening period as they had 13 first-half turnovers and were unable to stop Bemidji State, who shot 13-of-24 for 54.2 percent from the field. UMC connected on 8-of-17 shots for 47.1 percent. The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded 15 to seven in the first half.

The Golden Eagles were paced by Harrell, who came off the bench for nine points on 4-of-5 shooting. Rake, Burns and Dominique Wright (So., G/F, Colorado Springs, Colo.) each added three points in the first half. Rake led UMC on the boards with two rebounds.
Bemidji State was guided in the opening period by Noreen's 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting including 3 three-pointers for 6-6 big man who showed his dangerous inside-outside game. Walters added 10 points. Crockrell added eight points for the Beavers in the first half. BSU was on-fire from beyond the arc as they connected on 7-of-13 attempts for 53.8 percent. Bemidji State was led by Noreen and Michael Farrington on the boards. Each player had three first-half rebounds.

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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).