FULTON, Mo. - The Bethel College men's basketball team played their final contest of the 2023 calendar year against the Stars of Oklahoma City University, after leading by two at the intermission Bethel held on for the 80-76 victory.
 
After scoring the first bucket of the game, the Threshers trailed for much of the first ten minutes of the contest.
 
A Harper Jonas three tied the contest at 17 and a Brayden Schilling layup tied the game again at 19 before Keyaun Hoskin gave Bethel the lead with an and-one.
 
The Threshers led by as much as 8 points with just under four minutes left in the opening half. Bethel didn't trail for the final 10 minutes and 43 seconds of the first half.
 
Leading by two at the break, Bethel scored just two of the first seven points of the second half as the Stars tied the game and took the lead after completing the and-one opportunity.
 
Both teams traded the lead back and forth until the 11 minute mark when the Threshers held onto the advantage until the ninety second mark when OCU tied the contest at 73.
 
The Threshers outscored the Stars seven to three in the final minute of play with three of the seven coming from Jalyn Todd.
 
Key Statistic
 
The difference in the contest came from the three point line where the Threshers shot over 31%, making 6 of 19, while the Stars were just over 13% making just 2 of 15.
 
By The Numbers
 
Bethel scored just 7 points from their bench in the win.
 
The Threshers pulled in 10 offensive boards, leading to 4 second chance points.
 
Bethel scored 34 points in the paint to Oklahoma City's 38.
 
The Threshers forced the Stars into 16 turnovers, while turning the ball over just 12 times themselves.
 
Bethel was out-rebounded Oklahoma City, 45-37.
 
Seven Threshers scored in the victory, four in double-figures.
 
Harper Jonas and Keyaun Hoskin finished with 19 points while Jalyn Todd had 13 points to join Carmelo Yakubu in double-digit scoring as Yakubu finished with a team high 22 points.
 
Both squads took a large number of attempts from the charity stripe as they Threshers shot just over 62% making 20 of their 32 attempts while the Stars shot nearly 72% making 28 of their 29 attempts.
 
Thresher Leaders
 
Points: Carmelo Yakubu (22)
 
Rebounds: Keyaun Hoskin (9)
 
Assists: Carmelo Yakubu (6)
 
Steals: Keyaun Hoskin (3)
 
Blocks: Jalyn Todd (1)
 
Up Next
 
The Threshers are back to KCAC play on January 3^rd, 2024 as they host the York Panthers with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM inside Thresher Gym.
 
 
 
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