NORTH NEWTON, Kan.—The Bethel College men's basketball team used a balanced offensive attack and second-half efficiency to secure an 82-72 victory over Sterling College on Wednesday night in Thresher Gym. The win pushes the Threshers to 16-7 overall and 12-5 in KCAC play as they continue their push up the conference standings.

Harper Jonas had a standout performance, leading Bethel with 17 points, including five three-pointers. Carmelo Yakubu contributed 17 points and seven assists, while Cade Kittrell controlled the paint with 15 points and seven rebounds. Nick Bonner also played a key role, finishing with eight points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

How It Happened

Bethel started strong, jumping out to an early lead and taking a 39-35 advantage into halftime. Jonas' three-point shooting provided an early spark, while Yakubu and Kittrell controlled the offensive tempo.

Sterling battled back early in the second half, but the Threshers responded with efficient shooting, hitting 62.5% from the field after the break. Yakubu and Kittrell made key baskets down the stretch, while Bethel's defense forced timely stops to keep Sterling at bay.

The Threshers also controlled the glass, outrebounding Sterling 32-28 and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. Sterling's Julian Smith led all scorers with 20 points, but Bethel's balanced attack proved too much for the Warriors to overcome.

Inside the Numbers

• Bethel shot 55.4% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range.
• The Threshers outscored Sterling 42-16 in the paint.
• Bethel forced 15 turnovers, leading to nine points off takeaways.
• The Threshers had 17 assists on 31 made field goals.

Up Next

Bethel will remain at home for their next matchup, hosting Avila University on Saturday, February 8th, at 3:00 PM. With this win, Bethel now moves into a tie for 3rd place with Ottawa, and Saint Mary.