ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—The Bethel University men's basketball team snapped a seven-game losing skid to Saint John's following an 81-63 victory at the Robertson Center Gymnasium on Wednesday night. It was Bethel's first victory over the Johnnies since February 27, 2021, and their first triumph of them at home since January 31, 2019.
The Royals improve to 7-9, 4-4 MIAC, while the defending MIAC Co-Regular Season, and Tournament Champion Johnnies fall to 9-8, 5-3 MIAC.
Bethel 81, Saint John's 63
Bethel finished the contest with a .615 (32-of-52) field goal percentage, their highest in a MIAC game since February 1, 2020, when they achieved a .642 (34-of-53) mark in an 82-63 win over Macalester. The Royals' stellar shooting led to just 21 rebounds from the Johnnies, the lowest total from an opponent since January 6, 2020, when they fell 72-53 to a Concordia (Minn.) team that finished with 20 boards.
All six of the game's lead changes took place in the opening half. Blake Schmitz's jumper with 6:01 left in the first half, followed by his steal that led to a fastbreak dunk put his team in the driver's seat for good at 22-21 with 5:37 remaining in the frame. Those plays kick started a 17-3 Bethel run that widened their cushion to 35-24 at halftime, capped by AJ Kaul's three-pointer at the buzzer.
The Royals' .720 (18-of-25) field goal mark in the second half was too much to overcome for the Johnnies in an 81-63 final score.Â
Nick Burke paced Bethel with 20 points and six assists on 7-of-12 shooting and 3-of-6 from deep. Blake Schmitz followed that with 19 points, two steals, and four boards while Jack Charbonneau rounded out the Bethel double figure scorers with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting and five rebounds. Caleb Rosendahl finished with a team-leading seven rebounds, as well as five assists and one steal. The Royals finished .533 (8-of-15) from three-point land.
Baiden Bean had a game-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, three assists, and two steals for Saint John's. The Johnnies finished .390 (23-of-59) from the field.
The Royals will host Concordia (Minn.) at Robertson Center Gymnasium on Saturday, January 24 at 3 p.m.
