ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – A 23-point night from Zach Doely and a 17-point, eight-assist night from Payton Thomsen helped lead the Bethel men's basketball team to a late second half comeback against St. Scholastica, 80-78.
 
After shooting 44.1 percent from the floor in the first half the Royals were able to flip the script in the second half shooting 53.1 percent in the second. Bethel also went 6-of-11 from the free throw line in the second half after managing to go just 3-for-9 in the first half.
 
Down 78-77 with 24 seconds left Caden Boettcher would nail a three to give the Royals a two-point lead with 5.9 remaining. The Saints got a 3-point look on the other end but didn't have enough time to get off the offensive put back.
 
The Royals started the night strong when a Nick Burke 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 14-8 early. Later in the first the Royals fell behind but Blake Schimitz would come up with a 3-pointer of his own to cut the CSS lead to 31-30 with over five minutes until the break.
 
A Joey Kidder layup that beat the horn made it 45-37 St. Scholastica at the break.
 
A block by Boettcher on defense and an offensive rebound and layup at the other end of the court would cut the Royals deficit to three at 57-54 with 10:35 to play. The Royals would come up big on defense late in the second with a defense rebound leading to a Doely dunk and the Royals first lead in the second half at 76-75 with just over two minutes left.
 
The Saints connected on a second chance 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to go up one, but Boettcher provided the heroics on the other end of the floor.
 
Doely went 11-for-14 on the night while grabbing seven boards. Boettcher finished with 12 points off the bench and six boards. Joey Kidder grabbed a team-high 11 boards.
 
The win improves the Royals record to 12-10 overall and 9-8 in the MIAC. On Saturday the Royals take on Carleton looking to improve their winning streak to four on senior day. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
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