ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—The Bethel University men's basketball team cruised to a 94-71 victory over Martin Luther College in their 2015-16 season opener Saturday night. The Royals (1-0) shot 54.7 percent from the floor and 47.6 percent from outside the 3-point arc en route to a 23-point triumph over the visiting Knights (0-1).
 
BU started the game with a 55-34 advantage midway through the contest. Senior guard Sean Baumgard torched the net in the opening 20 minutes, making 4-of-5 from downtown for 15 first-half points. Meanwhile, the Royals limited MLC to 34.2 percent shooting, including a 3-of-10 mark from long range.
 
The second frame was fairly even, however, Bethel managed to play their entire bench throughout the final minutes of the game. The Royals converted 16-of-29 shot attempts (55.2 percent) throughout the final 20 minutes, with Kyle von_Schmidt-Pauli going 6-of-7 from the floor for 14 points.
 
As a group, BU dominated Martin Luther inside the paint—outscoring the Knights 48-22 down low. That difference was also seen in the 12-8 advantage in second-chance points.
 
Kyle von_Schmidt-Pauli led the Royals with 22 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes played. Just behind him was Sean Baumgard, who added 20 points and six boards. Together the two shot 15-of-23 (65.2 percent) from the field and 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) from beyond the perimeter. Derek Magnuson and Trevor Hall contributed 10 and eight points, respectively.
 
Martin Luther's T.J. Babinec led his team with 22 points, while Todd Brassow added 19.
 
Bethel's season continues Tuesday evening, when they travel to River Falls, Wisconsin to take on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons at 8 p.m.