MCPHERSON, Kan. – The Bethel College Men's Basketball team took on the Benedictine Ravens in day one of the McPherson Classic. The Threshers held a 34-28 lead at the break after leading by as much as ten points in the opening 20 minutes. Bethel held off every Benedictine run in the second half as they took the 67-59 victory.
Harper Jonas scored the first 11 points for Bethel knocking down 3 three's and a two to give the Threshers the 11-7 advantage. Bethel scored the next two baskets to take the largest lead for either team at that point in the contest nine, 16-7.
The Threshers held a five-point lead at the halfway point in the opening half after
Javen Hutton converted on a layup attempt.
Clifford Byrd II gave BC the largest lead for either team, ten points, with a made jumper at the five-minute mark.
With Bethel leading 30-20, the Ravens rattled off eight straight to get within two with two minutes left in the half. The Threshers scored the final four points of the half on a
Franklin Sampson free throw and a
Bryant Mocaby three pointer that beat the first half buzzer.
Bethel held a six-point lead at the intermission, 34-28, as they were led by Jonas who had 11 to lead all scorers. The Threshers shot 45.2 percent from the field while holding the Ravens to 36.4 percent.
The first nine minutes of the second half saw Bethel build their lead up to 14 points, 51-37, following a Jonas made free throw. The Ravens began slowly chipping away at the lead. They used an 11-5 run to get the score as close as four points, 56-52, with just over five minutes left in the contest.
Bethel rattled off a quick five points on a
Jalyn Todd layup and Byrd II three-point basket that extended their lead to 61-54. The Threshers knocked down their free throws down the stretch as the Ravens fouled to extend the game as they took the 67-59 victory.
Four Threshers finished with double-figure points led by
Harper Jonas with 15.
Clifford Byrd II,
Bryant Mocaby and
Jalyn Todd all finished with 10 points apiece. Mocaby cleaned up the glass for the Threshers recording a team high 8 rebounds. Byrd II stuffed the stat sheet nearly recording a quadruple-double with 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 7 steals. The Threshers shot 38.1 percent from the floor led by Todd who shot 80 percent.
Bethel will be back in action for day two of the McPherson Classic as they take on Clarke on Saturday, November 12
th at 2:00 PM.
