NORTH NEWTON, Kan. - The no. 8 Bethel Thresher Men's Basketball team host Park University for their home opener. The Threshers started slow but came on late for a 72-61 victory.
 
Neither team scored for the first two minutes and change until Tavaughn Flowers knocked down a jump shot. Both teams struggled to get any rhythm going for the first half of the opening period. After multiple lead changes, the Threshers took the lead at the ten-minute mark when Nick Bonner sunk a three to make the score 15-13 for Bethel. The Threshers took a 30-24 lead into the intermission.
 
Coming out of the break, both teams looked like they were ready to play as they were knocking down shots and responding to blows from each other. Park was able to cut the Bethel lead down to 3 points two and a half minutes into the final period. The Threshers responded with five straight points from Flowers and Clifford Byrd II. Bethel was able to maintain the distance between them and the Pirates before extending it even further when Bryant Mocaby made four straight free throws after two technical fouls were assessed to the Park bench to give the Threshers a 64-52 lead.
 
Bethel closed out the game strong to seal the 72-61 victory moving them to 3-0 on the season. They were led in scoring by Clifford Byrd II with a game high 21 points. Bryant Mocaby adds 10 points and 6 rebounds in the win. Jaylon Scott led Bethel in rebounding with 12 and assists with 7. The Threshers as a team recorded 7 blocks in the contest. 
 
Bethel will be back in action on Saturday, November 6th at 6:00 PM as they travel to take on Mid-America Christian in Oklahoma City, Okla.