ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — Bethel University endured an unfortunate 56-60 come-from-behind loss in their MIAC opener at the College of Saint Benedict Saturday afternoon. The Royals (3-3, 0-1 MIAC) led the Blazers (6-1, 1-0 MIAC) throughout the majority of the first three quarters, but CSB outscored BU 19-14 in the final frame and held on to defeat Bethel by four.
 
The Royals actually trailed Saint Benedict by nine with 4:02 remaining in the game, but an 8-0 run helped BU make it a one-point game with 1:12 left. A missed layup and two missed free throws in the final minute kept Bethel from evening the game at 58-58 and as a result CSB iced the win with a pair of free throws with nine ticks on the clock.
 
Taite Anderson had a game-high 23 points and 13 rebounds, but no one else scored more than six points for Bethel. The Royals were in significant foul trouble as Anderson and Hannah Johnson fouled out, although Johnson managed to play just 22 minutes.
 
BU shot just 37.8 percent from the floor and 25.0 percent from downtown, while CSB finished 33.3 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from outside the arc.
 
Bethel continues the 2017-18 campaign with another road test at Concordia-Moorhead on Monday, December 4. The Royals and Cobbers are scheduled to tipoff at 7 p.m.