ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University men's basketball finished regular-season play with a 62-46 win over Carleton College on Senior Day Saturday afternoon in the RC Gym. The Royals (19-6, 14-6 MIAC) battled back from an eight-point deficit midway through the second half to beat the Knights (14-11, 12-8 MIAC), earning their fifth win in a row and the No. 3 seed heading into the 2018 MIAC Playoffs.
 
It was a defensive battle in the first half with neither team able to produce on the offensive end, as BU went into the break with a 17-16 advantage. The Royals were a well-oiled machine on offense in the second half, though, putting up 45 points in the frame.
 
The Knights held the lead for the first 10 minutes of the second half. But with 10:42 remaining and an eight-point lead for the Knights, Tim Hanson hit a right-handed hook shot in the paint to end a 14-5 run for Carleton and spark a 13-5 run of their own. Granger Kingland came off a screen and hit a three ball to cap off Bethel's spurt and tie the game at 43 with 6:50 remaining. BU ended the game on a 17-2 run to put the game out of reach for the Knights.


 
Junior Guard Matt Ambriz led the way for the Royals dropping 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting. 12 of his points came in the second half in which he went 4-of-6 from the floor. Granger Kingland followed up with 16 points on 6-11 shooting and 4-6 from long range, seven boards and one block that sparked BU's final run to victory. Jack Jenson stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 13 rebounds and three assists en route to his first career double-double. Derek Magnuson had six points and five boards, four of which were offensive, while Tim Hanson had four points, including the momentum shifting layup, eight rebounds, and three dimes.
 
We're talking about playoffs for the Royals as they clinched a first-round home game with their win over Carleton. As the No. 3 seed in the MIAC Playoffs, Bethel has a rematch with the No. 6-seeded Knights on Wednesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. in the Robertson Center Gym.