ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University's men's basketball team continued to showcase their offensive firepower Wednesday evening with a 99-82 victory over Saint Mary's University. The Royals (5-1, 3-0 MIAC) shot 55.7 percent from the floor and out-rebounded the Cardinals (3-3, 1-2 MIAC) 39-25 en route to a 16-point win. BU has now scored 87 or more points in five of their first six games.
 
Bethel jumped ahead from the very first bucket and never looked back. In fact, the Royals ran out of the gates and built a 21-8 lead after the first 5:30. SMU went on a 16-6 run over the next five minutes, however, which narrowed BU's lead to three. Saint Mary's got to within two points 1:18 into the second half, but Bethel's 10-2 run over the next 5:21 gave the Royals' more than enough breathing room down the stretch.
 
Five players scored in double figures for BU including Bridgeport Tusler, Brycen Wojta, Trevor Hall, Derek Magnuson, and Granger Kingland. Tusler poured in a game-high 23 points, while Brycen Wojta finished with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, six rebounds, and five assists.
 
Like Wojta, Trevor Hall was very efficient from the floor—making 8-of-10 shots for 18 points, alongside seven assists, and a career-high five steals. Derek Magnuson neared his first double-double this season with 17 points and nine rebounds and freshman Granger Kingland tallied his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Cardinals, who came in with one of the higher assist-to-turnover ratios in the conference, surrendered 19 turnovers Wednesday, opposed to 16 assists. Meanwhile, BU, who also thrives in this category, posted 19 assists and 13 turnovers. Bethel outscored Saint Mary's 25-13 in points off turnovers and 58-34 in points in the paint.
 
The Royals will now play a rare Friday night conference contest this weekend when they travel to Macalester College to take on the Scots at 7:45 p.m. following a women's duel at 5:45 p.m.