WICHITA, Kan.—The Bethel College men's basketball team came up short in a hard-fought KCAC battle against Friends University, falling 81-78 on Wednesday night at the Garvey Center.

Wiseman led Bethel with 20 points, knocking down five three-pointers, while Bonner added 20 points and six rebounds. Harper Jonas chipped in 11 points and five rebounds, while Carmelo Yakubu contributed four rebounds and five assists.

How It Happened

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Bethel and Friends trading leads before heading into the break tied at 36-36. Wiseman hit two early three-pointers to set the tone for Bethel's offense, while Bonner's aggressive play inside helped the Threshers stay competitive.

In the second half, Friends gained momentum behind Ring Deng's and Collin Maclin's scoring. Bethel stayed within striking distance, with Jonas and Wiseman connecting on key three-pointers. However, Friends capitalized on Bethel's turnovers, scoring 19 points off giveaways to maintain their edge.

Bethel had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Bonner shot was no good. 

Inside the Numbers

• Bethel shot 39.4% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range.
• Friends shot an efficient 54.0% overall and 45.8% from beyond the arc.
• Bethel held a 19-8 advantage in points off turnovers but was outrebounded 37-36.
• Friends' bench outscored Bethel's reserves 29-14.

Up Next

The Threshers return to action on Saturday, January 25th, when they host McPherson College at 7:00 PM in Thresher Gym. Bethel will look to bounce back and continue their push in KCAC play.