ST. PETER, Minn. – Behind a career-high 28 points from sophomore Nick Burke, the Bethel University men's basketball team handed Gustavus Adolphus its first conference loss with an 80-71 win in overtime Saturday.
 
Bethel (7-5, 4-3 MIAC) got a defensive stop in the closing seconds of regulation as Gustavus (7-5, 6-0 MIAC) missed a contested fadeaway jumper from the elbow. It was all Royals in the five-minute overtime outscoring the Gusties 11-2.
 
The Royals finished 45.9 percent from the field and were 16-of-21 from the free-throw line. The Gusties shot 44.8 percent and were held to 4-of-19 behind the arc as well as 7-of-12 from the charity stripe.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• The opening 20 minutes saw four ties and three lead changes with Bethel leading for just over 13 minutes of it.
• Burke accounted for 10 of BU's first 12 points including a pair of threes in the first four minutes as the Royals led 12-6.
• A layup from Doely of a nice pass from Burke gave Bethel its largest lead of the night at 28-18 with 8:58 remaining.
• The Gusties went on a 13-0 run over a 5:20 stretch, garnering their first lead since the game's opening minutes.
• A three ball from Burke – who finished the half with 15 points – on the Royals final possession sent BU into the locker room up 38-35.
 
Second Half
• BU's largest lead in the second half was by eight with 6:35 to go on a Burke three off a GAC turnover.
• Tied at 69-69 an under a minute to go, the Royals got a defensive stop before calling timeout with 35.7 seconds remaining. Out of the quick break, the Royals got inside to Zach Doely who had his shot blocked and Gustavus corralled the rebound with 20 seconds left.
• Out of a timeout of their own, the Gusties got a look on a fadeaway jumper, contested by Doely and Joey Kidder, that fell short forcing overtime.
 
Overtime
• Payton Thomsen hit a contested three with 3:28 to go putting BU up 72-69.
• The Gusties would get their only bucket of the overtime period on a layup with 2:39 left.
• Burke knocked down his sixth three of the afternoon with a strike from the corner that put BU up four.
• The final five points for the Royals came from the free-throw line.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Nick Burke's career-high performance came on 7-of-15 shooting including a 6-of-10 clip behind the arc. He was 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.
• Zach Doely finished with 20 points and five rebounds.
• Payton Thomsen chipped in 10 points with a pair of threes.
• Joey Kidder added an even stat line of eight points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals have their hands full again on Wednesday, Jan. 10 hosting MIAC-leading Saint John's who sits at 8-0 in the conference. Tip off inside the Robertson Center is set for 7 p.m.

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