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ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Brycen Wojta had 12 points in Saturday evening's championship game of the Bethel University Tip-Off Tournament, but no point was bigger than his final two. With 1.9 seconds Wojta's fadeaway jumper gave the Royals (2-1, 0-0 MIAC) a come-from-behind 64-63 victory over Luther College.
 
BU trailed the Norse (2-1, 0-0 IIAC) by eight points with 53 seconds remaining in the game, but Bethel's full court press led to two quick steals and two layups as well as a blocked shot and 3-point play by Kyle Zimmerman. Then trailing 62-63 with less than 10 seconds, Wojta and the Royals electrified the Robertson Center Gym with the shot of season so far.
 
The last-minute run was nothing new for Bethel, as they eliminated a 12-point deficit in the first half with a 12-0 run in the final five minutes to go into the locker room trailing by two points. Jared Nelson played a critical role, as the Lino Lakes, Minn., native cashed in three 3-pointers throughout the timespan.
 


The Royals were held to three points over a 10-minute period in the second half, which again created a large deficit. But back-to-back shots from beyond the perimeter by Kyle von Schmidt-Pauli and the 9-0 run in the final 50 seconds displayed Bethel's toughness throughout the entire 40 minutes of play.
 
Jared Nelson led BU in scoring, finishing the night with 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 2-of-2 from the foul line. Brycen Wojta recorded 12 points, with a 5-for-10 performance, and five assists. Kyle Zimmermann also joined the double-digit party, finishing with 12 points and eight rebounds—his second straight tease with the double-double club.

 

As a team, the Royals shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48) and outscored the Norse 28-14 in the paint. Perhaps the most decisive stat was the 18-12 advantage in points off turnovers, as Bethel forced Luther into 13 turnovers.
 
Bethel, now 2-1 after three games played, will attempt to continue its win-streak next week on the road, when they travel to Mankato, Minn., to take on Bethany Lutheran College in nonconference action. Tipoff Tuesday night is scheduled for 7 p.m.