ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Playing in its final regular season home game the Bethel University men's basketball team's second half comeback came up just short to Carleton Saturday afternoon inside the Robertson Center, 81-78.
 
Adam Mattes' game-timing three in transition from the left wing rimmed in and out as the final horn sounded. Carleton missed the back end of a two-shot foul as Zach Doely came up with the board making a nice outlet pass to Joey Kidder who found mattes on the wing.
 
The Royals finished the afternoon 46.4 percent from the field, in large part to a 64.0 shooting percentage in the second half. Carleton was 55.9 percent from the floor. From the charity stripe, BU was 17-of-23 (73.9 percent).
 
Prior to the game the Royals recognized seniors Aaron Loe, Zach Doely and Joey Kidder for their time and dedication to the program.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• Bethel found themselves down 15-4 just over seven minutes into the game.
• Caden Boettcher knocked down a three with 7:03 to go before the break pulling BU within 23-18.
• An 8-0 run for Carleton pushed the deficit back to double digits for Bethel.
•  Shooting 34.3 percent in the half, BU went into the locker room trailing 42-28. Carleton shot 63.3 percent for the half.
 
Second Half
• The Royals largest deficit came at 46-30 early in the second half. A 7-2 run over a 3:20 stretch got BU back in it trailing 64-59 with 7:49 to go.
• Payton Thomsen knocked down a trey with 4:24 left officially erasing Carleton's double-digit lead, knotting it up at 70 all.
• A jumper by Doely on the next possession gave BU its first lead since going up 2-0 early in the opening minutes.
• The Knights took it back with a pair of free throws and a three. Matties tied it at 75-75 with a free throw before the Knights went up 80-75 with 22 seconds remaining.
•  Mattes came to the heroics again knocking down a wing three with nine seconds left before the Royals fouled sending Carleton to the line in the close seconds where they went 1-of-2.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
• Payton Thomsen dropped a game-high 19 points while adding four assists.
• Zach Doely finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, going 6-of-7 from the floor and 3-of-4 at the line.
• Caden Boettcher off the bench added 11 points.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals, who are now 12-11 on the year and 9-9 in MIAC play, continue to fight for a MIAC playoff spot when they travel to Saint John's, who has already claimed the regular season title, next Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.

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