Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – It was an often physical – and sometimes bloody – affair that, fittingly, went down to the wire

Led by a pair of 29-point efforts and four players in double figures, the Bemidji State University Beavers took eleventh-ranked Northern State University to double overtime before coming away with the 100-93 victory Friday evening in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball action

The win is BSU's fourth in a row and improves the Beavers' record to 7-9 overall and 5-4 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.  NSU slips to 12-3 overall and 5-3 in the league.

The win also avenges an earlier loss to the Wolves, who took a 73-70 win over the Beavers back on Nov. 29 during the NSIC HoopsFest.  NSU junior Mitch Boeck (Arlington, S.D.) banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to keep the Wolves' perfect season intact.

Such was not the case on Saturday, as the Wolves had to rally from seven down with 1:16 left in the game to force the first overtime.  NSU erased the deficit and took the lead at 73-72 with 23 seconds left to play in regulation after back-to-back 3-point plays by seniors Kevin Ratzsch (Bloomington, Ill.) and Kyle Schwan (Aberdeen, S.D.).

The Beavers, however, regained the lead on a tip-in by junior Seth Haake with just eight seconds remaining in regulation.  Northern State sophomore Derek Hoellein (Eureka, S.D.) was then fouled hard on the ensuing fast-break and made one of two free throws to force the first extra period.

The first overtime proved to be physical, but not extremely high-scoring, with each team getting their points in a variety of ways.  Haake had six of BSU's eight points in that frame, but missed a runner at the buzzer, sending the game into a second overtime.

NSU scored the first points of the final stanza on a pair of Ratzsch free throws, but BSU scored five straight points to take the lead for good, capitalizing on six free throws in the final minute of play to stretch a 1-point lead into the seven-point victory.

Statistical counts, like the score, were nearly identical for both teams.  Bemidji State, however, canned 12 treys throughout the night while missing just three free throws, helping swing the scoreboard in its favor.

The Wolves were led by a 29-point effort from Ratzsch, who suffered a cut above his eye in the second half and finished the game with a large bandage covering the left side of his face.  Boeck added a career-best 25 points on five 3-pointers, while junior Robert Thomas (Mankato, Minn.) finished with 12 points.

The Beavers got 29-points from both Haake and sophomore Brady Fairbanks.  Taylor Hall and Bryce Tesdahl joined them in double figures with 16 and 10 points, respectively.  Haake, Fairbanks and Hall combined to account for nine of BSU's 12 treys on the night.

The Wolves remain at home to face Minnesota Duluth on Saturday night.  The Bulldogs fell in overtime to the University of Mary on Friday night and enter tomorrow's contest at 13-6 overall and 7-2 in league action.