Box Score MANKATO, Minn. --- Bethany and St. Scholastica came in tied for fourth place in the UMAC standings with identical 4-4 records. Friday's winner in the men's basketball game at the Sports and Fitness Center would have sole possession of the fourth spot in five conference games remaining (the top four seeds qualify for the UMAC postseason tournament). The Vikings took a big early lead and never trailed as they toppled the Saints 81-64.

Bethany came out firing connecting on their first six shots to take an 18-6 lead five minutes into the game. Four different Vikings hit 3s in the opening stretch. The lead got to as high as 15, before the Saints closed the half on an 8-0 run to make the score 40-35 at the break. Jacob Wensmann nearly had a double-double in the first half alone scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

Bethany's lead was trimmed to 43-39 two and a half minutes in. Trent Kuechenmeister then drained a 3 and the Vikings lead would build back up again. That started a 15-2 run that put BLC up 58-41 with 14 minutes remaining.

The Vikings extended that lead to as many as 21 as they weren't threathened again.

Wensmann finished with 24 points and 10 boards. Kuechenmeister and Nick Sanborn each added 14 points; Sanborn also collected nine rebounds.

Bethany (6-14, 5-4 in UMAC) will try to keep their momentum going when they host Northland Saturday at 5 p.m.