ST. PAUL, Minn. – Behind Zach Doely's 24 points and 22 second chance points, the Bethel University men's basketball team got back in the win column with an 85-69 defeat of Macalester Wednesday evening in St. Paul.
 
Bethel is now 10-10 on the season and they have improved to 7-8 in conference play which ties the Royals with St. Olaf for sixth place.
 
The Royals grabbed 17 offensive boards, compared to the Scots two, while outrebounding Macalester by a wide 52-24 margin. BU dominated the inside game holding a 52-28 edge on points in the paint.
 
Bethel's defense held the MIAC's leading scorers, who came in averaging 78.9 points a game, to a 43.8 percent mark while shooting 47.9 percent themselves.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• After a couple of early ties Joey Kidder knocked down the Royals third three of the game sparking a 9-0 run and giving BU a 25-17 advantage with 11;25 to go before the break.
• Payton Thomsen gave the Royals their largest lead of the half at 44-24 with just under five minutes to go as his eight-foot jumper in the lane was good.
• Nick Burke knocked down his first three of the game on the Royals final possession before the Scots scored quickly before the half time horn as BU led 51-34.
 
Second Half
• A 3-pointer for the Scots pulled them within seven with 14:08 to go, but the Royals allowed them to get no closer.
• Thomsen converted on a three-point play moments later pushing the Bethel advantage back to double digits at 67-55.
• The Scots clawed away at the BU lead again getting it down to eight with 8:59 left, but a Zach Doely dunk on the other end added an exclamation point.
• Bethel's defense held Macalester scoreless through the final three minutes of the game forcing them 0-for-3 from behind the arc.  
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Zach Doely was 11-of-13 from the floor and added 15 rebounds for another double-double.
• Payton Thomsen splashed in 17 points to go along with seven assists and five rebounds.
• Joey Kidder contributed 12 points with Nick Burke adding 10.
• Emmanuel Schmitter grabbed 13 boards to go along with nine points, three blocks and two steals.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals return to the Robertson Center on Saturday, Feb. 3 hosting Gustavus Adolphus for a 3 p.m. tip.

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