Box Score MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany men's basketball team kicked off a very important two-game homestand Friday night against Minn.-Morris. The Vikings came in tied with St. Scholastica for the fourth and final UMAC playoff spot with two games remaining. A win would put them in prime position to clinch that berth. A loss wouldn't eliminate them, but it would mean they would need some help on Saturday.

Bethany did lose to the Cougars 84-66 meaning the playoffs essentially start Saturday for the Vikings in the regular season finale against Crown at 5 p.m. BLC needs to defeat the Storm and have St. Scholastica lose their game at Northwestern to clinch that fourth playoff spot for the UMAC postseason tournament set to begin Wednesday.

It was a sluggish start for the Vikings as they fell behind by ten early on. They worked their way back into the game and eventually tied it at 30 following a Jeremiah Fogarty jumper. The Cougars scored the final five points of the half to take a 35-30 into the break.

The Cougars shot over 58 percent from the floor in the second half making a BLC comeback tough. UMM extended their lead throughout the second 20 minutes and wound up winning by 18.

Chris Scarver led the Vikings (7-17, 6-7 in UMAC) with 21 points and Nick Sanborn recorded a double-double with 17 points and ten rebounds.