Bemidji, Minn. – A buzzer-beating layup by Bemidji State's John Sutherland led to the Beavers stealing a game at home, 63-62, over Minnesota Crookston on Saturday night.
 
The heartbreaking loss drops Minnesota Crookston to 3-5 (0-3 NSIC), while the Beavers improve to 6-2 (2-0 NSIC).
 
The Beavers would jump out to a quick 5-4 lead, but five straight points from Blaize Sagna (Jr., G, London, England) would give the Golden Eagles a 9-7 lead.
 
De'Antray Hughes (R-Sr., F, New Orleans, La.) would finish a tough layup and Sagna would connect on his second three of the game to give the maroon and gold a touchdown lead early in the game.
 
It would be the Reid Grant (Jr., G, Johnston, Iowa) show towards the end of the half. Grant would score seven straight points at the end of the half to send the Golden Eagles into the halftime break up by three at 34-31.
 
The Beavers would start the second half on a 5-0 run, but Grant would halt that with an easy finish at the rim.
 
The rest of the game would be back-and-forth. BJ Davis would cash in on a three to give the Beavers a 43-40 lead, but Peter Fuchs, Jr., (R-Fr., G, Wausau, Wis.) would answer with a three of his own to tie the game up.
 
BSU would then score five straight, but Grant would go on another scoring run, helping the Golden Eagles knot the game up at 48.
 
The Beavers would eventually take their largest lead of the game at 54-48, but the feisty Golden Eagles would answer back. Grant would connect on yet another three and Jordan Mitchell (R-Jr., F, Columbus, Ohio) would force a steal in the backcourt and finish at the rim to cut the lead to just one.
 
A pair of Mitchell free throws would give the Golden Eagles a lead at 58-57.
 
The two teams would then trade buckets and Grant would eventually give the maroon and gold the lead with a jumper in the paint.
 
The Beavers would get one more crack at the win and they would get it as Davis would fall to all fours but was able to somehow find Sutherland for his largest bucket of the game to give the Beavers the one point win.
 
Grant continues to be outstanding, finishing with 23 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Sagna collected a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Aguek Deng (R-Jr., F/C, Des Moines, Iowa) finished with 10 points on 50 percent shooting.
 
The Golden Eagles were outstanding once again defensively, holding the Beavers to 39 percent from the field and just 28 percent from deep.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will head to the state capital of North Dakota on Thursday to take on the Marauders of UMary. Tip-off is set for 5:30 P.M., from the MAC.