NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Bethel University men's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow offensive start falling on the road to St. Olaf, 82-59, Saturday afternoon.
 
The Royals were held to a 39 percent shooting mark while the Oles shot 53.8 percent, their third best mark of the year. A big difference came on the boards where STO held a 43-28 edge. Bethel (9-14, 7-11 MIAC) only turned it over eight times compared to St. Olaf's (13-11, 9-10 MIAC) five.
                                               
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• The Oles opened the game on a 12-2 run forcing head coach Zach Filzen to call a timeout with 15:17 to go.
• Everything STO put up in the half seemed to go in as they shot 51.5 percent (17-of-33) from the floor.
• Bethel on the offense end had early struggles and were scoreless over the final four minutes of the half sending them into the locker room down 41-25.
 
Second Half
• Avery Mast knocked down BU's first two bucks of the half from behind the arc, but sandwiched between those were a 15-0 run for the Oles over a 5:54 stretch.
• Bethel hit four treys in the second and only knocking down one in the first.
• The Royals shooting improved to a 40 percent mark in the second going 12-of-30.
• St. Olaf had its biggest lead of the day at 62-32 with just over 10 minutes to go, BU responded with its biggest run of the day scoring six straight.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Payton Thomsen led all Bethel scorers with 12 points and five boards.
• Zach Doely added 10 points while Joey Kidder chipped in nine.
 
UP NEXT
The hunt for a spot in the MIAC Playoffs continues for the Royals as they kick off a two-game homestand to close out the regular season next Wednesday, Feb. 15 hosting Saint Mary's. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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