MEN'S BASKETBALL: Rongstad nets 1,000th career point but Bemidji State falls to WInona State 70-67

WINONA – Bemidji State’s Lance Rongstad scored his 1,000th career point Friday night, but it wasn’t enough as Winona State came back from a nine-point halftime deficit to edge the Beavers 70-67 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Friday night.

The Beavers (8-7, 6-5 NSIC) led 42-31 at halftime thanks to Rongstad’s 16 first-half points.

But the Warriors (15-3, 9-2 NSIC) chipped away at BSU’s lead, finally pulling even with the Beavers at the 11-minute mark of the second half.

The two teams traded leads for the rest of the game, but the game turned in the final 90 seconds.

Jason Edward’s 3-pointer with 1:28 to play tied the game at 66-66, and his free throw on the shot made it 67-66.

After the Warriors missed a 3 on their end and the Beavers missed a two that would have put them up by 3, Winona’s Cameron Taylor made a layup with 29 seconds to go to give WSU the lead once again.

The Beavers had a chance to take the lead on their next possession but turned it over, leading to two made foul shots from WSU’s Jordan Fisher.

BSU’s Mason Walters then missed a 3 with seven seconds to go, which gave WSU the win.

Rongstad was BSU’s leading scorer with 24 points while Clayton Vette powered WSU with 30.

Bemidji State (67) – Rongstad 8-18 5-7 24; Edwards 5-8 1-1 13; Crockrell 4-6 1-4 10; Walters 3-12 1-3 7; Rosenbloom 2-4 0-0 4; Noreen 1-3 0-0 3; Jones 1-1 0-0 3; Farrington 1-1 0-0 3; Anderson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-55 8-15 67.

Winona State (70) – Vette 11-16 8-11 30; Humphrey 5-9 0-0 10; Johnson 4-6 1-2 9; Cameron 4-9 0-0 9; Taylor 1-4 2-2 5; Palkert 1-2 0-0 3; Blacklock 1-3 0-0 2; Fischer 0-3 2-2 2; Masberg 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-54 13-17 70.