Men’s Basketball Fights Back To Defeat Bemidji State, 77-72

Friday, January 5

8 p.m.

St. Cloud State

10-4,6-2NSIC

Bemidji State University

6-8, 3-6NSIC

Bemidji State

St. Cloud State

Jon Averkamp

Photo by: Paul Middlestaedt

Men’s Basketball Fights Back To Defeat Bemidji State, 77-72

1/5/2018 11:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Jon Averkamp goes over 1,000 career point mark

St. Cloud, Minn. - Senior Jon Averkamp picked up a game-high 22 points to lead the St. Cloud State men's basketball team (10-4, 6-2 NSIC) to a comeback 77-72 victory over Bemidji State (6-8, 3-6 NSIC) on Friday, Jan. 5, at Halenbeck Hall.

Averkamp shot 9-for-16 from the field in getting his 22 points plus had eight rebounds, a block and a steal in the victory. Junior Gage Davis tallied 18 points and eight rebounds. Davis also had three assists and a block. Junior Brindley Theisen reached double figures with 12 points plus he had five rebounds and two steals. Junior Sean Smith picked up eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and a steal. Junior Jace Kitchen totaled eight points and four rebounds off the bench.

Bemidji State put four players in double figures and were led by Sharif Black's 21 points. Black also had seven rebounds and seven assists. Ja'Vionne Green totaled 19 points and six rebounds. Logan Bader recorded 13 points. Christian Pekarek totaled 12 points plus four rebounds.

The Huskies shot 44.1 percent from the field (30-for-68), 40 percent from three-point range (8-for-20) and 64.3 percent from the free throw line (9-for-14). The team also had 40 rebounds, 17 assists, three blocks and five steals. Bemidji State shot 45.6 percent from the field (26-for-57), 36.4 percent from three-point range (8-for-22) and 66.7 percent from the foul line (12-for-16).

The Huskies led at the half 40-39 after trailing by as much as 13 in the first half. The team's largest lead with nine points, 51-42, on a made free throw from Gage Davis at the 18:04 mark of the second half. There were five tied scores and seven lead changes.

Bemidji State went on a 22-4 run to take a 64-55 lead with 11:07 remaining in the game. The Huskies then went on a 13-6 run to climb back to within two on a made free throw from Averkamp, 70-68 with just 2:39 remaining in the game. The deficit was chipped down to one, 72-71, on a made three from Averkamp with just 1:30 remaining in the game. After a defensive stop, Davis buried a three to give SCSU a two-point advantage, 74-72, and a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game with 38 seconds remaining in the contest. After another defensive stop, Smith calmly knocked down both his free throws to extend the advantage to 76-72 with just 16 seconds remaining. Another defensive stop and a Smith made free throw made the final score 77-72.

St. Cloud State men's basketball team keeps the home stand going and welcomes in Minnesota Crookston (8-7, 5-4 NSIC) on Jan. 6 at 6 p.m.

Notes:
- The team is now 10-1 this season when scoring 69 or more points
- The program has won seven of the last nine games.
- Jon Averkamp has scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season and led the team in scoring in 12 contests after getting 22 against Bemidji State.
- Averkamp reached 1,000 career points and became the 41st member of the club with his first basket in the game.
- Brindley Theisen has scored in double figures in 11 of the team's 14 games after scoring 12 against Bemidji State.