ST. PAUL, Minn. – Defensive stops down the stretch and key late free throws led the Bethel University men's basketball team to its second straight victory defeating Macalester on the road Saturday afternoon, 82-72.
Bethel (6-11, 4-8 MIAC) kept Macalester (10-6, 7-5 MIAC) off the scoreboard for the final 2:02 as the Scots missed their final six shots of the game, all of which were from behind the arc. In that stretch,
Joey Kidder and
Zach Doely combined to go 7-for-8 from the charity stripe sealing the 10-point victory.
The Royals finished 47.7 percent from the floor compared to Macalester's 42.7 percent. BU shot a 75 percent mark from the charity stripe while MAC was 64.3 percent.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Bethel held a 13-7 a little over five minutes in before the teams were tied on four separate occasions between the 13:03 and 5:23 mark.
• Kidder started hot scoring 14 points in the first 20 minutes including a pair of threes.
• Macalester led by seven with 3:15 before the break, but then Doely took over in the paint with six points down the stretch as Bethel trailed 37-36 at the break.
Second Half
•
Josh Hoffman knocked down a three before getting a steal and a bucket on the other end pulling BU within one.
• Macalester though went on an 11-2 run gaining its largest lead of the game at 53-43 with 13:50 remaining.
• Back-to-back buckets by Doely made it a two-possession game before
Sam Zilmer dialed in from long distance on three straight possessions putting BU in front 56-53 halfway through.
• The Scots tied it up two more times until an offensive putback by Doely with 5:52 left gave BU the lead for good.
• The Royals outscored the Scots 46-35 in the final 20 minutes
KEY PERFORMERS
•
Zach Doely finished with a game-high 26 points while adding nine rebounds.
•
Joey Kidder was a point and rebound shy of tying his career high finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
•
Tommy Jensen put in a productive 15 points while snagging a career-high eight boards.
•
Sam Zilmer had a career-high night with 11 points and four rebounds.
UP NEXT
The longest road stretch of the year continues for Bethel Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Gustavus Adolphus. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
