BEMIDJI, Minn. - Paced by another strong defensive performance, Concordia-St. Paul picked up its first road win of the year 80-70 at Bemidji State (3-1) on Tuesday night at BSU Gymnasium.

The Golden Bears have won back-to-back games to even out their early season non-conference record at 2-2 with a home non-conference game against Peru State (3-5) this Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Gangelhoff Center. While the Peru State game will be Concordia's last non-conference tune-up before league play begins at Augustana and Wayne State (Dec. 4-5), the Golden Bears will add one more non-conference game on December 30 against Saint John's.

The win evens the all-time series at 14-14 between the two teams in a series that opened in the 1999-2000 season when Concordia joined the Northern Sun. Concordia has won 13 of the last 17 meetings between the clubs, with this game being the first non-conference matchup in the all-time series.

Senior post Shea Mandli recorded his second career double-double in the game, scoring 13 points with a career-high 13 rebounds while playing 33 minutes. He was 6-8 from the floor, with five offensive rebounds and a blocked shot.

Concordia's defense held Bemidji State to just 35.7 percent (25-70) shooting on the night including a dry 18.2 percent (6-33) from three-point distance. The Golden Bears also held a strong rebounding advantage, 44-34 and were only edged on the offensive glass 13-10 despite missing 16 fewer shots.

The Golden Bears were efficient and balanced offensively. The team converted 47.3 percent (26-55) from the floor and 40.0 percent (4-10) from the arc while getting to the foul line 30 times, hitting 80.0 percent (24-30). BSU managed just 16 free throw attempts, hitting 14 (87.5%).

Despite a slow start offensively and battling foul trouble, senior Cole Olstad recovered late to help the Golden Bears hold off a Beaver comeback attempt. He finished as the team's leading scorer for the fourth time in a row to start the season with 14 points including a pair of three-pointers and 6-8 foul shooting in just 17 minutes. He also collected six rebounds, had three steals and two blocks with one coming late in the contest with Concordia leading 66-61 with 3:44 to play.

Olstad then hit a three-pointer a few scoreless possessions later to extend the lead to eight, 69-61 with 2:47 to play. That sparked him to score nine of the team's 14 points in the final three minutes of play, including hitting six straight free throws in the last minute.

Concordia led for nearly the entire night, officially credited with 36:51 of time with the lead while there were only two total ties for a total of 2:26 and BSU led for just 17 seconds.

A strong first half had the Golden Bears shoot 60.7 percent (17-28) from the floor while stifling BSU to 36.1 percent (13-36) shooting to build a 43-30 lead. Concordia extended the lead to a game high 18 point margin two and a half minutes into the second half, 48-30 as part of a 14-2 run covering nearly five minutes.

Olstad and Mandli were joined in double-figures by Diallo Powell with 10 points, adding six rebounds and four assists while making 6-6 at the line and playing 35 minutes.

Sophomore Jon Sobaski added nine points, six assists and didn't commit a turnover running the Concordia point for 31 minutes.

Concordia's bench was led by three freshmen, Brandon McRoy with nine points in 14 minutes, OC Omoregie with eight points in 12 minutes and Bryndan Matthews with six points and six rebounds in 24 minutes.

Also adding nine points was redshirt freshman Matt Ambriz, hitting all three shots with one three-pointer and a pair of free throws. He also dished out a pair of assists.

Concordia had eight players score between six and 14 points in the game and six players scored at least nine points.

Ben Best led Bemidji State with 15 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.