ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – It has been quite the week for the Bethel University men's basketball team that has been without a core group of players throughout the week due to COVID-19 protocols. But that never stopped the Royals from competing from the opening tip before coming away with a gritty 71-61 victory Saturday afternoon inside the Robertson Center.
 
With four starters in double figures, Bethel was led in scoring by Joey Kidder who had a career-high 19 points. Zach Doely was right behind him with 18 points and falling a rebound short of a double-double. Myles Coleman and Isaiah Rollins each finished with 16 and 10 points respectively.
 
Already putting in a resilient effort, the Royals got the big play it needed with 4:20 remaining as Doely got the crowd on their feet with a put back dunk off a miss from Rollins evening it at 57-57.
 
From there the Royals went on a 9-2 run opening up its margin to six before Myles Coleman got in the open court throwing down a slam jam with 37 seconds left to put a bow on it.
 
A handful of early 3-pointers boosted the Oles to an early 13-5 lead three minutes in. The resilient Royals responded in the best way possible with a 9-0 run as Coleman connected on an offensive put back giving BU a 14-13 lead.
 
The lead changed a few more times in the first with Bethel trailing by no more than two possessions. BU went the final 2:08 without a bucket but only trailed 30-25 heading into the locker room.
 
A quick turnaround for the Royals puts them back on the hardwood Monday evening at St. Scholastica where they take on the Saints for the first time since 2012.