CROOKSTON, Minn. – Gable Smith (R-So., F, Lodi, Wis.) would make it count on both ends of the floor down the stretch with the game-winning free throw and block as the University of Minnesota Crookston triumphed over Bemidji State University 82-81 on Thurs., Dec. 15. Smith would go 1-of-2 from the charity stripe with three seconds left to make it 82-81 Golden Eagles. After a heady timeout off of a cross-court pass by Bemidji State, Smith came up with a crucial block of a great look from BSU's Sharif Black as the Golden Eagles would hang on for the win.

Minnesota Crookston was led by stand-out performances from Harrison Cleary (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) and Chase Knickerbocker (So., G/F, Annandale, Minn.), who both put forth career nights for the Golden Eagles. Cleary tied his career-high with 34 points on 13-of-22 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Knickerbocker shattered his previous career high of 15 as he finished with 24 points on 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. 

Knickerbocker had 17 second-half points, while Cleary had 24.

The Golden Eagles pick up their first conference win of the season. UMC had strong efforts in the first four conference games but had struggled to close out games. Minnesota Crookston improves to 4-6 (1-4 NSIC) with the win. They have already surpassed their win total of three from the 2015-16 season as the young program continues to show strides in Dan Weisse's third year leading the ship. Bemidji State falls to 3-7 (1-4 NSIC) with Thursday's loss.

The game was really a tale of two halves as both teams came out a little flat in the first half. The score would be just 31-27 in favor of BSU at the break. The pace would speed up in the second half as UMC would out-scored Bemidji State 55-50 in the second half.

Minnesota Crookston finished the game 30-of-63 for 47.6 percent from the field. They shot 11-of-25 for 44.0 percent from beyond the arc. UMC would struggle from the charity stripe going just 11-of-20 for 55 percent, but Smith would hit the most important free throw of the game.

In addition to Knickerbocker and Cleary, Smith added seven points and seven boards. He also had three blocked shots. Kobe Critchley (So., G, Roseville, Minn.) wouldn't get much going offensively, but he helped out his teammates with six assists. Chase Johnson (Fr., F, La Crosse, Wis.) led the team with eight rebounds.

Bemidji State would look to 22 points apiece from Jai'Vionne Green and Ben Best. Black added 17 points. Peyton Dibble would have nine points and nine rebounds, while Logan Bader had eight points and eight boards.

The Beavers shot 29-of-54 from the field for 53.7 percent from the field. Bemidji State was 4-of-11 for 36.4 percent from beyond the arc and 19-of-31 for 61.3 percent from the charity stripe.

BSU won the rebound battle 36-31 over the Golden Eagles.

The Beavers would get out to an early 5-0 lead following a Black bucket with 16:59 left in the half. UMC would be able to take the 7-5 advantage after a Knickerbocker lay-up with 14:27 left in the frame. Bemidji State would counter and take the 10-7 lead after Green nailed a three-pointer.

UMC responded with a 6-0 run to make it 13-10 after a Cleary free throw. The Golden Eagles would continue to lead 20-17 after a Johnson lay-up with 9:04 remaining.

They would struggle down the stretch as Bemidji State outscored the Golden Eagles 14-7 down the stretch to go into the break ahead 31-27 on Minnesota Crookston

UMC would be able to cut the lead to 31-30 after a Jim Warmack (Jr., F/C, East Grand Forks, Minn.) old-fashioned three-point play to start the second half. Bemidji State would however be able to push their lead out to 40-34 after a bucket from Dibble.

Minnesota Crookston would get back within one at 40-39 after a Knickerbocker bucket. However, BSU would push it back out to 43-39 with 15:15 left in the half.

UMC would take the lead 44-43 after a Cleary jumper. Bemidji State would come right back and take the lead over again and make it 47-44 after a Best bucket with 13:02 remaining.

Minnesota Crookston would counter with a 6-0 run led by three-pointers from Connor Gamble (R-Fr., G, Stillwater, Minn.) and Cleary to make it 50-47 with 12:49 left in the game.

UMC would continue to hold the lead until BSU would knot it up at 54-54 following a pair of Best free throws with 8:26 left.

The Golden Eagles would widen the gap at 66-60 following a Knickerbocker bucket with 5:51 left. However, BSU would go on a big run 9-0 to turn the tables and make it 69-66 following a Green free throw with 3:39 left.

Cleary would come up clutch and knot it up at 69-69 following a three-pointer with 3:25 left in the game.

However, Bemidji State would be able to regain the lead and push it to 74-69 on a Black fast-break lay-up after a steal.

Minnesota Crookston would get within 76-73 after a Cleary three-pointer with 1:38 remaining.

Green responded with a lay-up on the opposite end to give the Beavers a 78-73 lead with 1:17 remaining.

A Bader foul would send Smith to the line where he would go 1-of-2 to cut the lead to 78-74. Johnson would then foul Green on the other end, where he would also go 1-of-2 to make it 79-74 with 1:03 left in the game.

Cleary would get a quick bucket to cut it to 79-76 with 54 seconds left in the game.

After a Knickerbocker foul, Black would nail both free throws to make it 81-76 with seconds left.

Smith would make a crucial bucket for the Golden Eagles to get within 81-78 with 37 seconds left.

After a Knickerbocker foul, Black would go to the charity stripe where he missed both to keep UMC in the game.

Cleary would drive the lane and get the bucket and be fouled. He would make the and-one to convert the old-fashioned three-point play and make it 81-81 with 31 seconds left.

After a Green miss, Smith would come up with a crucial board and be fouled. He would hit 1-of-2 to make it 82-81 with three seconds remaining.

BSU would send a pass across the court and gain possession but make a heads up play to call the timeout and draw up one final play. They got a great look inside from Black, but Smith, the league's leading shot blocker, came up big with a blocked shot to hold the lead for the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action Sat., Dec. 17 as they host another school out of Bemidji, Minn. They will face Oak Hills Christian College at 1 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.