ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The long-anticipated wait finally ended Saturday afternoon as the Bethel University men's basketball team returned to the hardwood 340 days after its last game. Second half shooting woes plagued the Royals falling to Hamline in the opener, 55-38.

Senior Isaiah Caver-Bagley led the way with a game-high 16 points knocking down four 3-pointers. In his collegiate debut, Joey Kidder came down with nine rebounds while Senior Sandin Skow reeled in a career-high eight.

Opening the scoring, Carver-Bagley recorded Bethel's first 11 points pulling the Royals within 14-11 with 11 minutes to go in the opening half. Closing the half on a five-minute scoring drought to go along with 10 turnovers by Bethel gave Hamline a 27-20 advantage at the break.

A pair of threes from Kidder and Sam Nelson in the opening minutes of the second half pulled Bethel within two. Over the next six minutes, BU kept it a one possession game before Hamline picked up steam from the field. A seven-minute scoring drought by Bethel allowed the Pipers to grab their largest lead of the contest at 53-35 with 2:35 remaining.

Hamline won the inside game out scoring BU in the paint 30-16.

The Royals are back in action Saturday, Feb. 6 opening up the seven-game MIAC portion of their schedule at Saint Mary's. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.