NORTH NEWTON, Kan.—The Bethel College men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 81-75 victory over Evangel University on Saturday afternoon at Thresher Gym. Led by Eli Wiseman's electrifying 27-point performance, the Threshers (6-5, 2-3 KCAC) overcame a strong second-half push from the Valor (4-5) to claim their second conference win.

Cade Kittrell added 20 points and grabbed four rebounds, while Carmelo Yakubu contributed a near double-double with six points and nine boards.

How It Happened

Bethel came out firing in the first half, quickly building a 13-point lead thanks to Kittrell's presence in the paint and Wiseman's shooting. The Threshers shot 44.1% from the field in the opening frame and held a 43-36 advantage at halftime.

Evangel tightened up defensively in the second half, cutting Bethel's lead to one with 6:13 remaining. Josh Mason and Garrett Davault paced the Valor, combining for 27 points. However, timely baskets from Wiseman and Kittrell in the final minutes kept the Threshers ahead. Free throws by Wiseman and Yakubu in the closing seconds secured the win.

Inside the Numbers

• Bethel shot 43.1% from the field compared to Evangel's 38.3%.
• The Threshers won the rebounding battle 43-31, including a 12-5 edge on offensive boards.
• Wiseman led all scorers with 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting, including three three-pointers.
• Evangel's Josh Mason filled the stat sheet with 14 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Up Next

The Threshers will hit the road to take on Sterling College on Wednesday, December 11th, at 7:00 PM. Bethel looks to build on its momentum as it continues KCAC play.