CROOKSTON, Minn.– The University of Minnesota Crookston used a balanced effort from the entire team to upend Bemidji State University 73-64 Friday night at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn. UMC avenged an early season loss to the Beavers, in which UMC fell 78-50, with the victory Friday over their rivals from just 88 miles down U.S. Highway 2. The Golden Eagles improve to 5-5 (3-3 NSIC) with the victory. Bemidji State falls to 6-4 (2-4 NSIC) with the loss Friday.

The win over BSU was Minnesota Crookston's first win over the Beavers since Feb. 10, 2008, when the
Golden Eagles picked up a 68-65 win over the Beavers. In addition, UMC also set other program marks, reaching three conference wins the quickest in program history. The Golden Eagles have never had three conference wins in their first six games. In addition, the Golden Eagles have not had three conference wins overall since the 2011-12 season and have not had five wins at the break since the 2010-11 season.

UMC is in their first season of the Dan Weisse era. Weisse took over prior to the start of the 2014-15 season, coming over after three years as an assistant at NSIC rival Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Balance was the name of the game for the Golden Eagles as Minnesota Crookston had four players score in double-figures on the night. Derrick Redd, Jr. (Jr., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management) led the way for Minnesota Crooskton with 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Redd added five rebounds on the night.

In addition to Redd, Tim Lubke (Sr., G, St. Paul, Minn./Sports and Rec Management), known for his three-point shooting throughout his career, diversified his game as he hit 5-of-9 from the field, all from within the three-point line. Lubke finished with 14 points on the night.

John Hughes (Jr., F, San Diego, Calif./Management) scored the first eight points of Friday's game and finished with 12 points and five boards. Kevin Larson (Sr., G, New Ulm, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) also played a strong game with 11 points and four rebounds on 3-of-4 shooting from the field.

Golden Eagle freshman Jim Warmack (Fr., F/C, East Grand Forks, Minn./Management), brother of former BSU women's basketball player Kate Warmack, had perhaps his best game in a Golden Eagle uniform, with nine points and seven rebounds off the bench. Tyler West, Jr. (Sr., G/F, Portland, Ore./Communications) added eight points and six rebounds.

Minnesota Crookston was 25-of-55 from the field for 45.5 percent and were 5-of-19 for 26.3 percent from beyond the arc. In addition, UMC came up big from the charity stripe, going 18-of-21 for 85.7 percent. The Golden Eagles also won the rebound battle over Bemidji State, 37-27.

Bemidji State was led on the night by the shooting of sophomore Cody Risseuw, who had 20 points, including going 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Brock Lutes added 15 points and six boards for the Beavers, while D.J. Anderson had 11 points off the bench.

The Beavers were without second-leading scorer Ben Best for the game. BSU was 22-of-50 for 44.0 percent from the field and were 8-of-18 for 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The Golden Eagles would control the pace of play for much of the first half, getting up 14 points (30-16) on the Beavers with 5:52 remaining, following a Lubke lay-in. However, Bemidji State would chip away at the lead, going on a 14-3 run, culminating with a Risseuw trey, to get within three points (33-30) with 1:47 remaining. The Beavers would be able to get to within one (35-34), however a Hughes lay-up would put the Golden Eagles ahead 37-34 going into the break.

Bemidji State would hold close early in the second half, however a 9-0 run for the Golden Eagles would catapult UMC to a 59-46 advantage with 7:28 remaining. The Golden Eagles would hold on for the win, 73-64.

The Golden Eagles will return to action in the new year, as they host University of Mary at 8 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.
 
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).