Box Score

Mankato, Minn. – The men’s basketball team helped Coach Balza get his 200th win of his career by defeating Minnesota-Morris 71-63.
 
The Vikings were down by two at halftime and the game remained back and forth until Bethany shut down the Cougar offense with three minutes left on the clock. BLC went on a nine point run to end the game. Before the last three minutes the Cougar offense was shooting lights out making 53.3 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three-point range. Bethany shot 47.2 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from behind the arc. Clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch helped seal the victory for the Vikes. They went 76.2 percent from the charity stripe while the Cougars made 57.1 percent of their free-throws.
 
The Vikings had a season low five turnovers while forcing the Cougars to have 16 turnovers. Minnesota-Morris outrebounded Bethany 31-24. BLC had 13 second chance points compared four second chance points for the Cougars.
 
Derek Peterson (St. Paul, Minn./Tartan) made some tough shots totaling 22 points. Peterson also recorded five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Gavin Kroehler (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) had 19 points and led the team in rebounds with seven. Alex Weldon (Marion, Iowa/Linmar) had 10 points and five rebounds. Pat Garvin (Jackson, Minn./Jackson County Central) led the team in assists with five. Senior Josh Allen (Fairmont, Minn./Fairmont), who played his last regular season home game as a Viking went 4-4 from the field totaling eight points.
 
The Vikings are now 12-9 overall and 10-0 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). Bethany will travel to Northland on Friday to take on the LumberJacks at 7:30 p.m., then will play at UMAC number two ranked St. Scholastica on Saturday at 5 p.m.