DULUTH, Minn. – With a 17-point performance, senior forward
Zach Doely surpassed the 1,000 career point mark Wednesday evening at St. Scholastica. Despite Doely's double-double effort – adding 12 rebounds – the Bethel University men's basketball team fell to the Saints 70-64, snapping a five-game winning streak.
St. Scholastica used a 15-3 run late in the second half erasing Bethel's 11-point second half lead with just under four minutes to go. The Royals held a 10-point lead in the first half before taking a six-point advantage into the break.
BU's 16 turnovers converted into 14 CSS points while the Saints' 11 turnovers turned into 10 points for BU. Bethel (6-5, 3-3 MIAC) finished the night 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from three. St. Scholastica (2-9, 1-5 MIAC) snapped its nine-game losing skid shooting 45.9 percent and 39.3 from long distance.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Three of Bethel's first six makes came from behind the arc building a 15-10 lead just over six minutes into the contest.
• A 6-0 run five minutes later gave the Royals their largest lead of the half at 24-14 with 8:07 to go until the break.
• One of the Saints' two threes in the half pulled them within 29-26 before BU built a 34-28 lead at the break.
• BU's defense held CSS to a 15.4 percent clip (2-of-13) behind the arc while the Royals were 4-of-9 for 44.4 percent from three. The Royals shot 53.8 percent from the field while the Saints were 36.1 percent.
Second Half
• A transition layup for the Saints with 3:52 left gave them the lead for good as they went up 59-58.
• CSS closed the game on a 16-6 run that started with a 3-pointer with 4:40 to go.
• Doely's layup with 5:18 to go would be the Royals only field goal until a 3-pointer from
Joey Kidder with 12 seconds remaining. In that stretch, Doely and Kidder combined for three makes from the charity stripe.
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Nick Burke opened the half with back-to-back threes until a driving layup from Doely gave BU its largest lead of the night at 42-31 with 18:22 to go.
KEY PERFORMERS
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Zach Doely recorded his seventh double-double of the season on 7-of-8 shooting while adding five offensive boards. He now has 1,011 career points become the 32nd member of the Royals' 1,000-point club.
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Joey Kidder got his first double-double of the year, and fifth of his career, with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He added six assists.
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Payton Thomsen finished with 13 points while knocking down three treys.
UP NEXT
Bethel looks to bounce back Saturday, Jan. 6 when they travel to Gustavus Adolphus, who is undefeated in MIAC play at 6-0. Tip off is set for 3 p.m.