Bethel University Athletics

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.—Bethel University dropped its first contest of the season Saturday afternoon in Collegeville, as the Royals (7-1, 2-1 MIAC) fell to Saint John's University in overtime 78-89. BU outscored the Johnnies (8-1, 3-1 MIAC) 37-34 in the second half, but couldn't hold on in the five-minute overtime period.
 
The Royals trailed by six with 43 seconds remaining in the opening half, but rallied off an 8-0 run to end the first period and begin the second. From there on out neither team led by more than four points. SJU held a slight 3-point advantage with 2:02 left in the second half, but a jumper by Brycen Wojta and a 3-pointer by Trevor Hall over the next minute put BU ahead by two. The Johnnies were able to even the score at 71-71 with 40 ticks remaining in the frame, but neither team was able to score down the stretch.
 
Saint John's then started the overtime period 3-for-3 from outside the 3-point arc, which gave the Johnnies a nine-point advantage in the opening 2:35. BU trimmed SJU's lead to six with 50 seconds left, but Saint John's iced the victory with five free throws inside the final minute.
 
Bethel's bench destroyed Saint John's, outscoring the Johnnies 27-9 throughout the 45 minutes of play. Moreover, the Royals out-dueled SJU on the glass 43-35. As a team, BU finished the game shooting 40 percent from the floor and just 29 percent from downtown. The Royals were perfect from the line (9-of-9).
 
Derek Magnuson continues his impressive rookie campaign, as the freshman forward finished Saturday's matinee with 27 points, on 11-of-16 shooting, 12 rebounds—six offensive and six defensive—and two blocks. Magnuson was 1-for-1 from downtown and 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
Brycen Wojta added 11 points and three assists in his first game back this season in 22 minutes played. Kyle von_Schmidt-Pauli contributed eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
 
Saturday's contest concludes Bethel's 2015 schedule, but the Royals will return to the hardwood Saturday, January 2. BU faces Macalester College at home in their first matchup of the 2016 calendar year.