Box Score MANKATO, Minn. - Bethany gave conference-leading Northwestern all they could handle Friday night, but the Eagles proved too tough to beat and fell 63-54 in UMAC men's basketball action.

Neil Eichten, Brady Rose, and Nick Sanborn all hit shots early as Bethany scored the game's first six points. The Vikings would lead until 3:39 left in the first half as a Will Gisler 3 gave Northwestern their first lead at 20-19. The Eagles extended their lead to four at 27-23 by halftime.

Eichten and Sanborn connected on shots to pull the Vikings within two at 29-27 early in the second half. Northwestern went on a run to extend their lead to eight, but the Vikings battled back and trailed by only three following a Dalton Kleinschmidt 3 with 11:23 remaining. That's all the closer Bethany would get as the Eagles shot 52 percent in the second half and would not relinquish their advantage.

Sanborn and Eichten each led BLC with 13 points. Nate Chadderdon grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds.

Bethany (3-17, 3-6 in UMAC) hosts North Central Saturday at 5 p.m. in the season's home finale.