ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Down nine at half the Bethel University men's basketball team shot 67% from the field in the second half to take down Carleton College 84-81.
Payton Thomsen led the way for the Royals scoring 19 points in the second half for a 24-point night, shooting 10-for-16 from the field.
Nick Burke scored 21 points shooting 4-for-9 from three and
Caden Boettcher earned a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards in the win.
Carleton jumped out to a nine-point lead near the midway point of the opening half. An
Adam Mattes' jumper followed by a
Caden Boettcher offensive board and tip-in layup brought the Royals back to within two 27-25. The Knights from there carried a nine-point lead into the half, 45-36.
Burke opened the second half with a three-ball, followed by Thomsen driving the lane for an easy layup to cut the deficit to four.
Down 12 with nine and a half minutes to play the Royals put together a 17-5 run to tie the game at 71 on a Thomsen layup.
Burke drove the lane, drawing a foul and knocking down one of two attempts from the charity stripe to give Bethel its first lead of the half, 74-73.
Thomsen knocked down a 15-footer with two minutes to play to put the Royals up 80-77. He later got fouled on a shot attempt, going to the line and knocking down both free throw attempts to give the Royals an 84-81 lead.
The Royals improved to 11-4 on the year and 5-1 in MIAC play.
Up next:
The Royals head down to St. Peter to take on the Gustavus Adolphus Saturday, Jan. 18. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
