COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Bethel University men's basketball team held tough with the MIAC regular season champions Saint John's trailing no larger than nine. The Johnnies pulled away in the end handing the Royals a 79-74 loss in the second to final game of the regular season.
Bethel led 58-55 with 9:56 remaining before the Johnnies pulled away with an 11-0 run over the next 4:08 of the game. Bethel (12-12, 9-10 MIAC) finished the night 48.1 percent from the floor while Saint John's (20-5, 18-2 MIAC) shot 56.4 percent.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
• The teams traded buckets in the opening minutes until
Payton Thomsen knocked down a three and
Zach Doely connected on back-to-back layups. The 7-0 run for BU gave them a 16-13 lead with 12:24 left. It would be their largest lead of the night.
• The Johnnies took the lead back with a 7-0 fun of their own. Their largest lead of the night came at 39-30 with 90 second until the break.
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Zach Doely capped out a 12-point half with a pair of free throws in the final second of play sending BU into the break down 39-32.
Second Half
• A 9-2 run over a two-minute stretch by the Royals pulled them within 51-50 with 13:25 to go.
• Two possessions later Thomsen tied it up at 53 with a three before giving BU the lead just a minute later with a pair of free throws.
•
Emmanuel Schmitter knocked down his first bucket of the night from long-range giving BU a 58-55 lead before the Royals went on a cold stretch.
• Thomsen ended the near four-minute scoring drought with a free throw with 5:37 to go.
• With 32 seconds left,
Caden Boettcher hit a pair of free throws pulling BU within 75-72, but the Johnnies put it away at the line.
KEY PERFORMERS
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Payton Thomsen finished with a game-high 28 points while knocking down six threes. He added four assists.
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Zach Doely finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Royals currently sit sixth in the MIAC standings and will battle St. Olaf for the final playoff spot on Saturday, Feb. 17. Tip off in Northfield is set for 1 p.m.
