ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A hot shooting start from behind the arc backed by a strong defensive effort earned the Bethel University men's basketball team a 75-60 win over Macalester Monday evening inside the Robertson Center.
Bethel (2-4, 2-2 MIAC) knocked down eight of its nine threes in the first half finishing 37.5 percent from behind the arc. Defensively they held a Macalester team (5-3, 2-2 MIAC) that came in shooting over 38 percent from three to 26.1 percent at a 6-for-23 mark.
The Royals dominated the glass by a 48-27 margin and had 16 offensive boards that turned in 17 second chance points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
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Nick Burke opened up a hot 3-point shooting half for the Royals with the game's opening bucket coming behind the arc. A fast 7-0 start for Bethel in the opening 90 seconds forced a Macalester timeout.
• Bethel's defense forced the Scots into a seven-plus minute scoring drought while going on an 11-0 run themselves budling a 33-16 advantage.
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Emmanuel Schmitter closed out the half with three straight makes behind the arc giving the Royals a 45-23 lead at the break.
• The Royals finished the half 8-of-12 behind the arc and 51.4 percent from the floor while holding Macalester to 3-of-11 from three and 32.1 percent from the field.
Second Half
• The Scots hit some tough jumpers early on before going on a 7-0 run through the middle part of the half putting BU's lead down to 59-51.
• An offensive put back by Kidder with 3:21 to go got it to 67-56 before the Scots hit a pair of free throws on the other end.
•The Royals defense held the Scots to just one field goal in the final three minutes while BU finished on 6-0 run in the final 90 seconds.
KEY PERFORMERS
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Zach Doely registered his fourth straight double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while adding four assits.
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Nick Burke added a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double on 5-of-17 shooting.
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Joey Kidder added 13 points with five assists.
• Off the bench,
Emmanuel Schmitter contributed 11 points and four boards in 25 minutes of action.
UP NEXT
The Royals welcome Saint Mary's to the Robertson Center Saturday, Dec. 9 for a 3 p.m. tipoff.
