Crookston, Minn. -- Bemidji State shot a blistering 67 percent in the second half, overcoming an early 11 point deficit to knock off Minnesota Crookston in men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon, 87-77, inside Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-7 overall.
It was a fantastic start in the first three minutes for the Golden Eagles, who would score the game's first 11 points, led by Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (Jr., F, Grand Island, Neb.) and Spencer Swenson (Fr., F, Sauk Rapids, Minn.), who would score all of the Golden Eagles 11 points in that 11-0 run.
BSU would make it a six point deficit at 14-8, but Swenson would score five straight points to make it 19-8.
Leading 25-18, the Golden Eagles would later lead 29-21 following buckets by Alijah Washington (R-Jr., G, San Jose, Calif.) and Brayden Carlson (So., C, Woodbury, Calif.).
A three by Mukoma, Jr. with 64 seconds left in the first half would give the Golden Eagles a four point lead heading into the halftime break.
The second half would unfortunately tilt the way of the Beavers.
BSU would take their first lead of the game on a made three, but Washington would get the hoop and the harm, but would miss the free throw for a chance to regain the slim lead.
The game would be somewhat of a three-point shootout between the two teams in the middle portion of the half, as the two teams would trade leads. J.D. Roberts (Jr., F, Parkville, Mo.) would bury a right corner three to tie things up at 48.
That's when the Beavers would start to pull away.
The Beavers would take a 59-51 lead past the midway point of the final half, but Swenson would finish a fastbreak layup to cut the lead to six.
The Beavers would then drain three straight long range shots, including a four-point play, extending their lead to 16 at 69-53.
Trailing 73-63, Donez Lindsey (Fr., G, Stockton, Calif.) would score four straight points to cut the Beaver lead to just six at 73-67, but that would be as close as the Golden Eagles would get in the ten point loss.
Mukoma, Jr., led the way for the Golden Eagles, finishing with 26 points on 8-14 from the field and 5-10 from long range, which were both career highs in makes and attempts. Lindsey continued his stretch of double-digit scoring games, scoring 13 points with five assists. Swenson finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Roberts added 10 points off the bench.
Minnesota Crookston finished with a season low three turnovers and made 12 threes in the loss.
Minnesota Crookston will head to UMary on Thursday night for a 5:30 P.M. tip-off from the MAC.
