Box Score DUBUQUE, Iowa --- The Bethany men's basketball team had a tough contest for their first game back after the holidays. They traveled down to Iowa to face a Dubuque Spartans squad that has yet to lose a game this season in ten tries. The Vikings led for most of the first half, but Dubuque's balance and depth proved too much as the Vikings dropped the game 83-71.

In order to hand the Spartans their first loss, Bethany had to shoot the ball well and they came through with their best shooting effort of the season making 47 percent of their shots. The Vikings used that hot shooting to take an early 8-point lead following a Rodney Pierce-Tyler three to make it 18-10 with 12:28 left in the first.

Bethany held onto that lead until a three from Dubuque's Chris Frazier tied the game at 23. Chris Scarver, playing in his first game of the season coming back from an early-season injury, gave the Vikings the lead back with a three to put Bethany up 31-29 with 5:08 left in the first. Dubuque, though, closed the first half on a 16-5 run to take a 9-point lead into the locker room. The Spartans maintained the lead throughout the second half to remain undefeated.

Jacob Wensmann had a strong effort for Bethany coming through with 25 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Trent Kuechenmeister and Luke Roddy were the other Vikings in double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively.

Bethany (1-9) will remain in Iowa for a ball game tomorrow at Wartburg College in Waverly for a 4 p.m. tip.