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ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—A determined Bethel University men's basketball team got out to an early lead Saturday and never looked back, drubbing Saint Mary's University at home 94-46. The Royals (13-10, 9-9 MIAC) started the game on a 20-2 run in the opening 8:38, which set the tone early that the Cardinals (4-19, 3-15 MIAC) were in for a long afternoon.
Bethel shot 64.5 percent in the first half, making 20-of-31 shot attempts, as
Taylor Hall (Sr., Blaine, Minn.) led the group with 17 points and five rebounds at the half. Hall wasn't the only contributor, however, as Kyle Zimmerman (Jr., Champlin, Minn.) went 4-for-4 for eight points, alongside nine boards.
Bjorn Westlund (Sr., Moundsview, Minn.) also went perfect from the floor, making 3-of-3 from long range and 2-of-2 from the foul line.
The pain didn't end there, as the Royals extended its 30-point half time lead to 48 by the games end. With 4:43 remaining in the second period, a number of substitutions came in to finish out the game for Bethel. Rather than just playing key minutes, they increased BU lead—finishing the game on a 15-6 run.
Blake Nicols (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) went 3-of-5 for seven points in the final five minutes.
Head coach Jeff Westlund and his squad outmatched SMU in every category throughout Saturday's matinee, as it was a 16-0 advantage in fast-break points, a 42-14 edge in bench points, and 19-3 margin in points off turnovers.
Three players finished the game in double figures, with Hall ending with 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Meanwhile, “Zim” tallied 10 points and 15 boards—his seventh double-double of the season, and third consecutive—and Westlund finished with 11. Overall, 13 players contributed to BU's total points.
At 9-9 in conference play, the Royals are tied for sixth place with Saint John's—a team Bethel split with in the regular season. Bethel will end the regular season by hosting both Hamline and Macalester next Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. Should BU win out, they will most likely be among the Top 5 and in the MIAC Playoffs.
