Box Score

MOORHEAD, Minn. - Five Royals reached double digits as Bethel defeated Concordia 75-64 tonight to advance to the semifinals of the MIAC playoffs. 

The Royals never trailed after the first two minutes of the game, and led 38-25 at the half.  Concordia managed to creep back into the game, narrowing the margin to a five point game halfway through the second half.  But a clutch 3-pointer by Jeff Reck (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.) sparked a 10-0 run to put the Royals back out by 15.

Tim Madson (Jr., Redwood Falls, Minn.), whose heroics on Saturday put Bethel in the playoffs, led the Royals with 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.  Mike Moberg (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) posted similar numbers with 12 points and nine rebounds on the night.  Shane Flannery (So., Lakeville, Minn.) also scored 12 points, of which seven came from the free throw line.

Reck and JJ Palmer (Fr., Tuscon, Ariz.) rounded out Bethel's double-digit scorers by scoring 11 points each on 5-for-8 field goal shooting.

The Cobbers were led by MIAC Co-Player of the Week, Luke Linz, who scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds for a double double in his final game.  The senior scored a majority of his points from the free throw line, sinking 14 of his 16 shots from the stripe.  Ryan Hagemeyer scored 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the floor, and a free throw.

With the win, Bethel improves to 16-10 on the season and moves them into a pairing with St. Thomas on Thursday night in a semifinal match starting at 7:30 p.m. at Schoenecker Arena.  The winner of Thursday's game will go on to play the winner of the Carleton vs. Gustavus game for the conference championship and automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.