ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Payton Thomsen and
Zach Doely combined for 41 points as the Bethel University men's basketball team picked up its fourth straight win with a 71-60 decision over Dickinson in St. Pete Beach, Fla.
Thomsen had his fourth 20-plus point game of the season dropping 26 on 8-of-12 shooting and connecting on five threes. Doely added 15 points going 7-of-10.
The Royals shot 50.9 percent in their Sunshine State opener and went 36.4 percent behind the arc. Defensively BU held the Red Devils to 40.3 percent shooting and 12.5 percent behind the arc where they were 3-of-24.
Bethel never trailed by more than two which came in the early minutes of the game. Six straight points from Thomsen sparked a 9-0 run for BU's lead to reach double digits at 35-20 with 5:12 to go. The Royals led by as many as 19 before taking a 47-31 lead into the break.
Neither team shot well from three in the second half with Bethel going 2-of-8 and Dickinson 2-of-12. Bethel's lead got as large as 20 twice. A Doely layup with 15:01 to made it 57-37 while a 3-pointer from Thomsen with 7:28 to go made it 68-48.
UP NEXT
The Royals take on Berea College on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m.
