Bemidji, Minn. – Blaize Sagna (So., G, London, England) scored a career-high 22 points, but Bemidji State made one more play than the Golden Eagles down the stretch, earning their first win of NSIC play with a 79-74 victory over Minnesota Crookston on Tuesday night.
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 0-5 (0-1 NSIC), while the Beavers improve to 4-1 (1-0 NSIC).
 
Minnesota Crookston would get off to a good start, helped by a Xzavier Jones (Jr., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) dunk, giving the Golden Eagles a 7-4 lead.
 
After that point, the Beavers would go on an 11-0 run, taking a 15-7 lead early on in the first half.
 
BSU would extend their lead to 27-16, but Minnesota Crookston would answer back in a big way.
 
Dezmond Washington (Jr., G/F, Morrilton, Ark.) would score a team-high 12 first half points, capped off by a three from the top of the key, cutting Bemidji State's lead to 35-34.
 
Sagna would regain the lead for the Golden Eagles with a layup. Jordan Mitchell (R-So., F, Columbus, Ohio) would score four straight points down the stretch of the first half. The game would be tied at 40 apiece after the first 20 minutes.
 
The Golden Eagles would take their largest lead of the game at five, after a three from Matthew Allman (R-Jr., G/F, London, England) and a thunderous slam from Washington made it 49-44, early on in the half.
 
Both teams would go back-and-forth midway through the half. De'Antray Hughes (R-Jr., F, New Orleans, La.) would make a tough contested layup and Sagna would make a technical free throw, putting the Golden Eagles up three with less than nine minutes to go.
 
With 2:30 remaining in the game, Mohamed Kone would make his first three of the game off the glass, giving the Beavers the lead for good.
 
BSU would make free throws down the stretch for the five-point win.
 
Sagna finished with a career-best 22 points and eight rebounds, while going 9-16 from the field. Washington added 16 points, while Jones and Rambo Badyal (R-Sr., G, Kelowna, British Columbia) added eight and seven, respectively.
 
Minnesota Crookston shot 49.3 percent from the field.
 
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will head to Aberdeen, S.D., for a weekend tournament. The Golden Eagles and Presentation College will tip-off on Friday at 5 P.M.