BSU men’s basketball heads into NSIC opener at 5-1

BEMIDJI, Minn. (Dec. 2, 2011) — Bemidji State University men’s basketball is off to a 5-1 start to its 2011-12 season and enters Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with its highest pre-season coaches’ poll place since 2006.

The Beavers opened the season with a thrilling 71-58 exhibition loss at Big Ten Conference member Minnesota on Nov. 1, using a game-high 21 points from junior David Berthene to keep the Golden Gopher lead under 10 points until late in the second half.

BSU dropped a 71-60 decision at 10th-ranked Metro State to open its regular season, and from there has ripped off a streak of five consecutive wins to post its best record after six games since 1997-98.

The five-game winning streak includes home wins over the University of Sioux Falls, Minot State University and Michigan Tech, and road victories at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs and the University of Wisconsin, Stout.

Bemidji State was picked seventh in the pre-season NSIC Coaches’ Poll, its highest pre-season ranking since 2006. BSU tied for 10th in the NSIC a year ago, finishing 11-15 overall and 8-14 against the conference.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

For more information, contact Bemidji State University’s Office of Athletic Media Relations at (218) 755-2763, or visit bsubeavers.com.

Team members are listed below by hometown.

MINNESOTA
Avon | 56310 | Zach Noreen, freshman, criminal justice, forward
Crosby | 56441 | Brock Tesdahl, junior, physical education, guard
Crosby | 56441 | Bryce Tesdahl, senior, physical education, guard
Lakeville | 55044 | David Berthene, junior, environmental studies, forward
Mahtomedi | 55115 | Jon Krebs, sophomore, business administration, guard
St. Paul | 55119 | Maxie Rosenbloom, freshman, business administration/accounting, forward

ARIZONA
Glendale | 85303 | James Ellisor, junior, mass communication/sport management, forward
Mesa | 85203 | Dermaine Crockrell, sophomore, sport management, guard
Phoenix | 85042 | Jason Edwards, junior, business administration, guard
Yuma | 85365 | Ryan Kinnell, senior, criminal justice, center

CALIFORNIA
Palm Springs | 92240 | Dillon Floyd, freshman, psychology, forward

WISCONSIN
Eleva | 54738 | Lance Rongstad, senior, biology, guard/forward
Kaukauna | 54130 | Jake Schalow, freshman, physical education/social studies education, guard
Milton | 53563 | Mason Walters, junior, business administration, forward

—bsu—