NORTH NEWTON, Kan.—The Bethel College men's basketball team cruised to a decisive 75-57 victory over Saint Mary on Saturday evening at Thresher Gym. Behind a standout performance from Carmelo Yakubu, the Threshers improved to 10-6 on the season and 6-4 in KCAC play.

Yakubu led the Threshers with 19 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the field and a perfect 9-of-9 at the free-throw line. He also added nine rebounds and two assists. Eli Wiseman provided a spark with 16 points, including three three-pointers, while Harper Jonas contributed six points and seven rebounds.

How It Happened

Bethel set the tone early with a strong defensive effort and efficient shooting, building a 42-26 lead at halftime. Yakubu and Wiseman combined for 25 points in the opening half, helping the Threshers dominate the paint and control the tempo.

Saint Mary attempted to rally in the second half, cutting the lead to 13 at one point, but Bethel responded with a balanced offensive attack and timely stops. The Threshers out-rebounded the Spires 47-27, converting second-chance opportunities into 17 points.

Saint Mary's Joey Schultz led the Spires with 14 points, while Bryce Johnson added 12. However, the Spires were held to 33.3% shooting from the field and 23.1% from beyond the arc.

Inside the Numbers

• Bethel shot 40.7% from the field and 36.0% from three-point range.
• The Threshers dominated on the glass, out-rebounding the Spires 47-27, including a 13-10 edge in offensive rebounds.
• Bethel's bench outscored Saint Mary's reserves 30-18.
• The Threshers converted 18-of-23 free throws (78.3%).

Up Next

Bethel hits the road on Wednesday, January 15, to face Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM as the Threshers aim to extend their winning streak.