MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.—The Bethel University men's basketball team opened their 2025-26 season with an 89-86 road victory over North Central (Minn.) in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon. It snapped a three-game losing skid in season openers, dating back to a 76-59 victory over Crown on November 13, 2021. It also marked head coach Gabe Miller's first career victory.
The Royals begin the season 1-0, while the Rams fall to 0-1.
Bethel 89, North Central 86
All seven of the game's lead changes occurred in the first half. Jack Chabonneau came off the bench for 10 first-half points. The Royals never trailed again when Chabonneau tied the game 25-25 off a three-pointer with 7:48 left in the first half, and put his team in the driver's seat for good with a layup that made the score 27-25 with 6:11 left in the opening half.Â
Bethel went on a 18-11 run to close the frame, capped by back-to-back three-pointers from AJ Kaul that made the score 45-36 at halftime.
Charbonneau ended a 35-25 run with a free throw that gave Bethel their largest lead of the game at 80-61 with 7:00 left in the game.Â
The Rams shrunk their 19-point deficit down to two with 0:17 remaining, when the score read 86-84. Bethel was fouled twice within the final 0:17, which put Kaul at the free throw line. He sunk three-of-four free throws down the stretch to ice an 89-86 victory for the Royals.
Nick Burke paced Bethel with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Adam Mattes added 19 points, three assists, and one block. Charbonneau notched a team-best six rebounds, as well as 15 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting off the bench. Kauls was another spark off the Royals bench with 18 points.Â
Bethel finished .630 (29-of-46) from the field, while North Central converted a .476 (30-of-63) mark. Carmello McNeal scored 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting for the Rams.
The Royals will host Augustana (Ill.) at Robertson Center Gymnasium on Friday, November 14 at 7 p.m.
