BEMIDJI, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State's Casey Sussenguth scored a career-high 18 points, but it would not be enough as Bemidji State earned a 70-56 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory on Saturday night in Bemidji, Minn.

Bemidji State (14-5, 9-4 NSIC) was led by James Ellisor who finished with 26 points on 11 of 12 shooting. Lance Rongstad finished with 12 points and seven boards for the Beavers.

Casey Sussenguth's career-high 18 points helped keep the Mustangs in the game. SMSU (9-8, 8-5 NSIC) shot just 38 percent (21 of 55) from the field while the Beavers finished the game shooting 53 percent from the field. Nick Smith added 12 points and seven rebounds for SMSU and was the only other Mustang to reach double-digits.

The Mustangs were cold from 3-point range in the game shooting 2 of 14 (14 percent) from behind the arc. Bemidji State won the rebounding game finishing with 39 boards compared to 25 for SMSU.

The game started out slow with the teams stuck at a 4-4 tie for nearly four minutes of basketball. The Beavers ended the scoring drought on a layup by Ellisor who eventually completed the 3-point play to give the Beavers a 6-4 lead.

With the Beavers leading 18-12 with eight minutes remaining in the first half, Sussenguth hit two free throws followed by a William Giddings 3-pointer to bring the Mustangs within one at 18-17. Sussenguth then hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 18 with 5:30 to play.

SMSU took its first lead of the game with 28 seconds left in the first half when Giddings scored in the paint and converted on the 3-point play hitting his free throw shot to give the Mustangs a 24-22 lead. The Beavers responded running the floor for a score and a foul and Dermaine Crockrell converted on a 3-point play to send the game into halftime tied at 25.

Bemidji State started the second half on a 10-2 run to take a 35-28 lead three minutes into the second half. Sussenguth kept the Mustangs in the game scoring on three consecutive possessions to bring SMSU within four at 39-35 with 15:12 to play.

BSU then went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-point 46-35 lead. After a timeout by the Mustangs, SMSU went on a 5-0 run to cut the score to 46-40 in favor of the Beavers.

Bemidji State would eventually push its lead to 12 before the Mustangs came within five on a big 3-pointer by Jordan Miller to make the score 59-54.

SMSU would miss five field goals in the final two minutes of the game and the Beavers would close out the game on a 9-0 run to take a 70-56 victory over the Mustangs on Saturday night.

Southwest Minnesota State will continue NSIC play on the road next weekend taking on Upper Iowa University and Winona State Jan. 27-28.