BEMIDJI, MINN. – The University of Sioux Falls, led by 20 points from junior guard Zach Wessels, scored the final seven points of the game and recorded a fifth straight victory, 78-71 over Bemidji State in NSIC basketball on the road. USF improved to 11-8 on the season, including 7-4 in league play. Bemidji State had a two-game winning streak halted as they dropped to 5-11, 3-8 in league play.

With the game tied at 71-71, USF's Kebu Johnson converted a pair of free throws for the lead with 1:40 on the clock. Then, the Cougars forced a turnover and made a defensive stop before Wessels added a free throw with 16 seconds left for a 74-71 advantage. After a missed three by BSU, Wessels converted two more free throws for a 76-71 lead and the issue was decided. The Cougars' final two points were from Clint Thomas, who made two free throws after a technical on the Beavers' bench.

"We made some huge plays down the stretch," said USF men's basketball head coach Chris Johnson, who picked up career win 152. "It was a really good basketball game. I couldn't be more proud of our team tonight. It was a good hard-fought win on the road. As for Zach Wessels, he is playing at a really high level for us. He had 20 points, 10 assists and didn't turn it over. He is playing like an all-league guard. You have to give him credit all the work he has put in but I am really proud of his effort and that of everyone who stepped on the floor. We had contributions from everyone," added Johnson, whose team heads to Minnesota Crookston on Saturday for a 6 p.m. game with the Golden Eagles.

After USF led 30-28 at halftime when there were just two lead changes, the second half was back-and-forth with 14 lead changes and nine tied scores. Key to USF's victory was taking advantage of turnovers as the Beavers had 14 which led to a 16-to-9 USF advantage in points off turnovers.

In total, the Cougars, which improved to 4-2 in road league games, had four players in double figures, led by Wessels, who was 7-of-10 from the floor while dishing out a career-high 10 assists. Wessels, who reached 20 points for the second time this year (21, Augustana, Dec. 31, 2016), also made just his third three-pointer of the season to go with six rebounds and three steals. The junior guard from Austin, Minn., also recorded his first-ever double double at USF.

Senior forward Daniel Hurtt added 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting while sophomore forward Drew Guebert added 16 points and Mack Johnson, 14. With his 16 points, Guebert passed the 600 point mark in his career (605).  Also junior forward Tom Aase had two more blocks and now has 120 in his career, a program D2 best.

Overall, the Cougars were 30-of-56 from the floor for 53.6 percent but made 17-of-25 shots in the second half for 68 percent. The hot shooting by USF in the second stanza was needed as BSU hit 24-of-48 for 50 percent for the game and 14-of-24 for 58.3 percent in the second half.

Ben Best led BSU with 17 points while Jai'Vonne Green, who did not play in the first half, had 16, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Overall, USF won the rebound battle, 30-29. It was the 16th time in 19 games that the Cougars outrebounded its opponent.

BSU controlled most of the first half until a 13-0 closing run by USF in the final 5:52 of the half allowed the Cougars to take the 30-28 halftime lead. After falling behind by nine points (26-17, 5:52, 1st), following a 6-0 run by BSU, the Cougars put together a rally to take a 30-26 lead with 1:21 left in the first half. The run was keyed by five points from Wessels, who had a three, and a trey from Guebert. In the rally, USF held the Beavers without a basket and just a pair of free throws over the final 5:52 of the half. 
 
In the opening half, M. Johnson led USF with 11 points, hitting 5-of-9 from the floor and handing out a pair of assists. Wessels had seven points, four rebounds and seven assists. Guebert had seven points for USF which was 13-of-31 from the floor for 42 percent, although just 2-of-12 from three point range. Both teams had 17 rebounds. BSU, which led for 17:13 of the first half, hit 10-of-24 shots from the field for 42 percent and were also 2-of-12 from three point range. The Beavers were led by 11 points from Best and nine from Sharif Black.

After Wessel's basket gave USF a 32-28 lead early in the second half, BSU retook the lead with a 16-7 run to lead 44-39 with 13:27 to play. The Cougars answered with a 7-0 run, keyed by five points from Johnson for a 46-44 advantage with 12:13 on the clock. Later, Hurtt converted a third consecutive basket with his lay-up giving USF a 52-50 advantage (9:57) in a back-and-forth second half with the Beavers. 

At the 8:51 mark, Guebert's third three of the game pushed USF back into a 55-53 lead. Christian Pekarek, who had 14 points, hit his third three of the game for a 61-60 lead with 5:54 to go. But USF answered with a 6-0 run as Kebu Johnson, Hurtt and Wessels converted baskets for a 66-61 lead and 4:16 left. But as was the trend on this night, BSU answered with 9-2 run, including two straight threes from Green for a 69-68 lead. Then, USF received a three from Hurtt for a 71-69 advantage and 2:02 left on the clock.

While BSU tied the game late, USF converted seven straight free throws to take the win for the fourth time in six all-time meetings with BSU.