ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The Bethel University men's basketball team closed out the 2024 portion of its schedule with an 83-51 loss at Augustana College on Saturday afternoon. The Royals couldn't overcome an early 23-8 deficit in their final non-conference matchup of the year while also seeing their five-game winning streak snapped.
 
BU shot under 40 percent from the field for the second time this season with a 36.2 clip. They were 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from behind the arc. The Vikings shot a 48.7 percent clip and were 42.1 percent (8-of-19) behind the arc.
 
Turnovers proved costly with the Auggies turning BU's 22 turnovers into 22 points while Augustana only turned it over eight times.
 
Nick Burke was BU's lone scorer in double figures with 13 points while knocking down three treys.
 
A layup from Emmanuel Schmitter with 16:29 put Bethel within 11-8 early, and from that point, they never got closer. The Auggies went on a 12-0 run putting their lead in double-digits where it stayed the rest of the way.
 
Nick Burke hit a three with just over a minute left in the first half ending a two-minute scoring drought as the Royals trailed 54-28 at the break.
 
Bethel had its biggest run of the game at 10-0 early in the second half to get them back within 56-38, but would be outscored 27-13 through the final 11 minutes.
 
Falling to 8-3 on the year, BU is back on the hardwood Saturday, Jan. 4 traveling to St. Olaf for a 1 p.m. tipoff.

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