ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University's men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 84-74 home victory over Concordia College Wednesday evening. The Royals (14-4, 9-4 MIAC) out-rebounded the Cobbers (4-13, 2-10 MIAC) 38-24 throughout the game, which proved to be the biggest difference in the mid-week matchup.
 
Concordia grabbed their only lead of the night with 6:11 remaining in the opening half, leading BU 32-31. The Royals immediately squashed any momentum for the Cobbers, however, outscoring CC 11-4 over the next four minutes. Bethel stretched its lead to 19 with 13:12 remaining in the game before Concordia whittled it back to 10 in the closing minutes. 

BU's 38-24 rebounding margin was pivotal not only because it gleaned 12 more shot attempts, but also because it helped the Royals outscore the Cobbers 25-6 in second-chance points. Bethel also outscored Concordia 36-24 in points in the paint.


Riley Dearring led all players in scoring with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, along with three rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Matt Ambriz and Jack Jenson followed suit, as Ambriz finished with 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists, and Jenson composed 15 points, five assists, three boards, and two steals.
 
Derek Magnuson manufactured his second double-double in as many games, tallying 12 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists. Granger Kingland just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine boards.
 
Bethel hosts Saint John's University on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 1 p.m. for the first time back in the Robertson Center Gym since the Royals defeated the Johnnies for the MIAC Championship.