MEN'S BASKETBALL: Bemidji State routs Minnesota Crookston

CROOKSTON – After a pair of two-point games – a win over Augustana and a loss to Wayne State – the Bemidji State men didn’t leave anything to chance Tuesday night.

Four Beavers reached double figures scoring – led by Lance Rongstad with 26 points and eight rebounds – as BSU routed Minnesota Crookston 75-58 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action.

In addition to Rongstad, Mason Walters scored 15 points, Zach Noreen added 10 and Dermaine Crockrell made up for being held scoreless in BSU’s loss to Wayne State Saturday with 13 points.

UMC (3-11, 0-10 NSIC) hung with the Beavers (8-6, 6-4 NSIC) early in the game, taking the game’s first lead and trading baskets with BSU in the first 10 minutes of play.

With eight minutes to go in the first half, BSU led by just one point, 22-21.

That’s when BSU pulled away.

The Beavers outscored the Golden Eagles 23-8 in the final eight minutes of the first half, taking a 45-29 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, BSU didn’t let up and led by as many as 26 before head coach Mike Boschee removed his starters from the game.

The Beavers outrebounded the Golden Eagles 37-35 and forced 14 turnovers; BSU also shot 26-for-56 (46.4 percent) from the field and 7-for-22 (31.8 percent) from 3-point range.

Almir Krdzalic led UMC with 16 points and six rebounds.

The Beavers are back on the road this weekend. They’ll head south for games against Winona State on Friday and Upper Iowa on Saturday.

Bemidji State (75) – Rongstad 8-13 7-8 26; Walters 6-11 2-4 15; Crockrell 6-13 1-1 13; Noreen 3-10 2-2 10; Edwards 1-2 2-2 5; Rosenbloom 1-2 0-1 2; Anderson 1-3 0-2 2; Schalow 0-0 2-2 2; Tesdahl 0-1 0-0 0; Floyd 0-0 0-0 0; Jones 0-0 0-0 0; Farrington 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-56 16-22 75.

Minnesota Crookston (58) – Krdzalic 5-12 3-4 16; Rake 3-9 2-2 9; Sparkman 3-7 2-3 8; Burns 2-8 4-4 8; Harrell 3-6 1-4 7; Niang 1-4 2-2 4; Barge 1-1 0-0 3; Parker 1-2 0-0 2; Wright 0-1 1-3 1; Lubke 0-1 0-0 0; Paulson 0-0 0-0 0; Moorer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-52 15-22 58.

3-point goals – Bemidji State 7-22 (Rongstad 3-6; Noreen 2-5; Walters 1-3; Edwards 1-2; Tesdahl 0-1; Farrington 0-1; Anderson 0-1; Crockrell 0-3); Minnesota Crookston 5-16 (Krdzalic 3-4; Barge 1-1; Rake 1-2; Harrell 0-2; Niang 0-3; Wright 0-1; Lubke 0-1; Burns 0-2).

Rebounds – Bemidji State 37 (Rongstad 8); Minnesota Crookston 35 (Krdzalic 6).

Total fouls – Bemidji State 21, Minnesota Crookston 19.

Halftime Score – Bemidji State 45, Minnesota Crookston 29