NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – In a game that the Bethel College men's basketball team didn't trail until the final 30 seconds and led by as 15 points, the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes came away with the three-point 72-69 victory.
Bethel started the contest about as good as head coach
Jayson Artaz could've wanted. The Threshers started the contest on a 21-6 run, making eight of their nine attempts from the floor and a perfect three for three from deep while holding the Coyotes to just two of seven shooting.
Kansas Wesleyan went on a mini run of their own to cut the one-time 15-point lead down to as little as eight points in the opening half before Bethel pushed it back to ten, 40-30 entering the break.
The Threshers scored the first four points of the second half, quickly pushing their lead back up to 14 points. Bethel's lead hovered right around the 11-point mark until there was just over six minutes left to play. KWU used a 6-0 run to make it a six0point game with under five and a half minutes left to play.
The Threshers held on to their lead until the Coyotes rattled off a 10-2 run to tie the contest at 68 with three minutes and change remaining.
Carmelo Yakubu would split a pair of free throws giving BC the one-point advantage before KWU made a layup to give them their first lead of the contest with 26 seconds on the game clock.
Bethel missed an opportunity down the stretch to take the lead back and the Coyotes knocked down their free throws giving them the three-point victory inside Thresher Gym.
Key Statistic
After shooting 50% from three-point range in the first half, Bethel made just 20% of their three point attempts in the second half.
By The Numbers
The Threshers pulled in 13 offensive boards, leading to 5 second chance points.
Bethel finished with 32 points in the paint compared to the KWU's 38.
The Threshers turned the ball over 12 times while forcing the Coyotes into 14.
Bethel pulled in 35 rebounds to Kansas Wesleyan's 36.
Eight Threshers scored in the loss, four in double digits.
Thresher Leaders
Points:
Harper Jonas,
Carmelo Yakubu (13)
Rebounds:
Harper Jonas,
Keyaun Hoskin (6)
Assists:
Keyaun Hoskin (3)
Steals:
Jared Richardson (3)
Blocks: Three Tied (1)
Up Next
The Threshers are back in action on Saturday, January 27
th at 7:00 PM as they host the McPherson Bulldogs inside Thresher Gym for Alumni Night. All Bethel College men's and women's basketball alumni will receive free admission to the contests.
