ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Trailing by as many as 22 points in the second half, the Bethel University men's basketball team got within one of Saint John's with just over 12 minutes to go. But it would be the Johnnies who regained the hot hand handing the Royals an 83-67 loss inside the Robertson Center.
 
Bethel (7-6, 4-4 MIAC) finished the night 45.8 percent from the field and were 42.1 percent from three. Saint John's (11-3, 9-0 MIAC) shot 55.9 percent and were 38.9 from three-point land. The Johnnies held a narrow edge on the boards 26-23.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
•  A fast-paced opening seven minutes saw five ties where the teams knotted up at 18-18.
• A 12-0 Johnnies run over three minutes and 16 seconds gave them a 28-18 advantage until Payton Thomsen knocked down a trey.
• SJU picked up steam behind the arc shooting 5-of-6 in the half. Bethel shot 42.3 percent from the floor compared to the Johnnies 63.3 clip and trailed at the break 48-29.
 
Second Half
• Bethel opened up hot from the field as part of a 22-5 run to start the second. Payton Thomsen and Joey Kidder knocked down threes late in the run before Zach Doely slammed it home making it 53-51 with 13:36 to go.
• A step back jumper from Thomsen got the Royals within one, 55-54, with 12:18 but that's as close as the Royals would get. 
• After that jumper the Johnnies went on a 18-7 run pulling away from the Royals.
• Bethel shot 48.5 percent in the second half and were 5-of-10 from three while JSU shot 48.3 percent and were 2-of-12 from three.    
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Zach Doely finished with 20 points and six rebounds to go along with three assists.
• Nick Burke and Payton Thomsen each used three treys to finish with 13 points each.
• Joey Kidder finished with 11 points, four rebounds and free assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals stay home hosting St. Olaf on Saturday, Jan. 13 against St. Olaf. Tip off inside the Robertson Center is set for 3 p.m.

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