Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Bethel made a valiant effort to overcome a 10-point first half deficit to tie the game at 33 heading into halftime. Unfortunately, the Concordia Cobbers pulled away in the second half and defeated the Royals 68-53.

The air outside the Robertson Center was no warmer than 0-degrees Fahrenheit, which may have been the reason why Bethel's second half shooting was only slightly warmer than that. Bethel tied the game at 35 with a bucket a little over a minute in, but was then held scoreless for the next seven minutes of game time. The Royals shot an outstanding 14-for-27 in the first half, only to see that number go to 7-for-27 in the latter half. No one made a three-pointer in the second half after Bethel was 3-for-7 in the first.

Chris Vavra (Sr., Cambridge, Minn.) led the attack for Bethel with 11 points and four assists in 27 minutes, but was held to just 3-for-10 shooting. Taylor Hall (So., Blaine, Minn.) came off the bench to score 11 points as well. Chris Breuer (Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the team with five rebounds.

On the other side of the ball, John Fraase tallied a double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds, while three other Cobbers registered double digit point totals, including Darrin Olmscheid, who finished with 15.

The loss sets Bethel back to 5-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference, while Concordia improves to 7-3 overall and 3-2 in the MIAC. The Royals will have an opportunity to bounce back when they take on the Hamline Pipers at home on Monday evening for a 7:30 p.m. game.