LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — The Bethel College men's basketball team put together a strong second-half response Saturday evening, defeating Saint Mary 73–61 at the Ryan Sports Center. With the win, the Threshers improve to 13–3 overall and 8–2 in KCAC play, continuing their climb in the conference standings.

It was a tale of two halves for Bethel. The Threshers struggled to find rhythm offensively in the opening 20 minutes and trailed 40–31 at halftime as Saint Mary shot efficiently and controlled the pace. Bethel weathered the early deficit and came out with renewed energy after the break.

The momentum shifted quickly in the second half as Bethel tightened up defensively, holding Saint Mary to just 21 points over the final 20 minutes. The Threshers forced tough shots, limited second-chance opportunities, and used timely stops to fuel a steady comeback.

Offensively, Bethel leaned on balance and depth. Trenton Patterson led the way with 16 points, knocking down key three-pointers during a decisive second-half run. Drew Rodriguez provided a big spark off the bench with 15 points, while Rustan Griffen added 11. Carmelo Yakubu impacted the game across the stat sheet with nine points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, helping control the tempo as Bethel pulled away late.

Bethel outscored Saint Mary 42–21 in the second half and took its first lead of the game midway through the period, extending it to double digits down the stretch to secure the road win.

The Threshers now return home for a midweek rivalry matchup. Bethel will host Tabor College on Wednesday at 8:00 PM inside Thresher Gym.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the Bethel College Booster Club will host its 3rd Annual Soup Supper in Memorial Hall from 5:00–7:00 PM prior to the game.