ST. PAUL, Minn. – Freshman Payton Thomsen dropped a career-high 29 points on 9-of-16 with four treys as the Bethel University men's basketball team fell to Hamline 90-77.
 
The visiting Royals shot 54 percent (27-of-50) from the floor including a 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from three-point range. Hamline shot 48.6 percent (34-of-70) and knocked down 13 threes where they were 40.6 percent.
 
Bethel won the battle of the boards 37-25, but were costly with 21 turnovers compared to Hamline's seven.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Avery Mast carried the scoring early with three connections behind the arc through the first eight minutes.
• Thomsen's second chance bucket with 11:54 left in the half gave BU its only lead of the night at 20-18.
• BU has face second half scoring droughts this year, but this time it came in the first half limiting themselves to only two made free throws over a four-plus minute stretch.
• Thomsen kept BU within single digits including getting them within 35-32 with a pair of free throws.
• Hamline though pushed the deficit back to double digits at 46-36 at the break.
 
Second Half
• BU's 3-point shooting went cold in the second half with Thomsen knocking down the lone trey of the final 20 minutes.
• Hamline's lead grew as big as 18 and the Royals would get no closer than 11.
• The Pipers turned the Royals 11 turnovers into 10 points.
• 11 turnovers in the half limited the Royals offensive opportunities.   
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Thomsen in 35 minutes of action added six boards and two assists to his career night.
• Zach Doely added his third straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while adding five assits.
• Mast finished 13 points and four rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
BU returns home from a two-game road stand Saturday, Dec. 3 hosting Concordia at 1 p.m.  
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