BSU survives Cougars, 71-64

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

Jan. 21, 1999

By Devlyn Brooks

The Beavers men's basketball team struggled, but survived a 71-64 scare by Minnesota- Morris Wednesday night.

The Beavers (8-9), shooting only 9-of-31 from the field in the first half, were stifled by a gritty, young Cougars (1-15, 0-3 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) defense.

On paper, the Beavers looked as if they should wrap up the contest quite quickly, but the Cougars' -- entering the game with a 14-game losing streak -- caught BSU on its heels.

"They were hungry, and we were pretty flat in the first half," Beavers coach Dave Gunther said. "They played very well."

On either side of the ball, there wasn't much good to talk about for the Beavers in the first half.

But in the second, a different Beavers team emerged.

The offense was more patient and developed the inside game, which in turn, opened up the land behind the three-point arc.

After the Beavers were able to pry open the middle, Seth Greenwaldt started punishing the Cougars from the outside in the second as well.

In the first seven minutes of the second, Greenwaldt connected on five treys, helping to bring the score from a nine-point Morris lead to a four-point BSU lead.

"Without a doubt, Mr. Greenwaldt won the game," Cougars coach Jim Severson said.

Greenwaldt finished with 19 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field to lead the Beavers in scoring.

But Mac Smith was not to be outdone, posting his fourth double-double of the year, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Beavers improved their shooting to 43 percent by the end of the game, shooting 13-of-20 in the second.

"We started getting the ball inside, and it opened some perimeter shots," Gunther said. "That really helped (our momentum)."