Bemidji, Minn. –  Bemidji State used a 21-6 run to open the second half and earn a 75-67 victory over Minnesota State Friday night in front of 1,351 fans in the BSU Gymansium.  The loss comes despite a career-high in the scoring column from sophomores #Connor O’Brien# (21) and #Jimmy Whitehead# (19).

 “We have to put a full 40 minutes together,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler.  “I thought we battled back and put ourselves in a position to win the game.

The Mavericks led the entire first half, taking a 34-29 lead into the break.  Freshman forward #Zack Romashko# paced MSU in the opening half with nine points while O’Brien added eight points off the bench.

The second half saw Bemidji State use that 21-6 run and never really look back.  The Beaver defense opened the second half holding MSU without a field goal for the first six minutes and one second of the second half.  BSU’s James Ellisor scored 15 of the Beaver’s points during the stretch.

After a Minnesota State timeout, the Mavericks used back-to-back three-point field goals by senior guard #Stephen Kirschbaum# and Whitehead to cut the lead to four at 50-46.

The Beaver’s quickly opened an eight-point lead at 56-48 before Whitehead drilled a three-point from the top of the lane to cut the lead to five.  After forcing a Beaver turnover O’Brien nailed a 16-footer from the right wing to cut the lead to three at 56-53 with five minutes remaining.

From that point on, Bemidji State scored 17 of the final 29 points to secure the win. 

Minnesota State finished the night shooting 46.3 percent from the floor.  O’Brien scored his 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including a 6-of-8 effort from the free throw line.  He also had a team-high nine rebounds in the loss.

 Whitehead’s 19 points came on 7-fo-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 from the three-point line.  Minnesota State outrebounded BSU, 29-26.

Ellisor led all scorers with 34 points.

The Mavericks (5-11, 4-8 NSIC) travel to Minnesota Duluth tomorrow for a 6 p.m., against the Bulldogs.